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Secret jWemoirsf 



THE COURT OF ROYAL SAXONY 
1891-1902 



THE COURT OF ROYAL SAXONY 
1891-1902 



THE STORY OF LOUISE 

CROWN PRINCESS 

FROM THE PAGES OF HER DIARY, LOST AT THE TIME OF 

HER ELOPEMENT FROM DRESDEN WITH 

M. ANDRE ("RICHARD") GIRON 

BY ^ 

HENRY W^ FISCHER 

Author of " Private Lives of William II and His Consort/* 
" Secret History of the Court of Berlin,*' etc., etc. 



SUujftrateb from ^l)otOBrapf)s( 



BENSONHURST, NEW YORK 

FISCHER'S FOREIGN LETTERS, INC. 

PUBLISHERS 



.Z^"" 

y^"" 



Copyright, 1912 
By henry W. FISCHER 



Copyright, 1912, applied for by Henry W. Fischer in Great Britain 



Copsrright, 191 2, by Henry W. Fischer, in Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, 

and all foreign countries having international copyright 

arrangements with the United States 



[All rights reserved, including those of translation] 



J 

©CI.A328174 



This Library Edition sold by subscription 
and limited to one thousand copies. 



No. 



EDITOR'S CARD 

This is to certify that the Ex-Crown Princess of Sax- 
ony, now called Countess Montiguoso, Madame Tosclli 
by her married name, is in no way, either directly or in- 
directly, interested in this publication. 

There has been no communication or whatever nature, 
directly or through a third party, between this lady and 
the editor or publishers. In fact, the publication will be 
as much a surprise to her as to the general public. 

The Royal Court of Saxony, therefore, has no right 
to claim, on the ground of this publication, that Princess 
Louise violated her agreement with that court as set forth 
in the chapter on the Kith and Kin of the ex- Crown 
Princess of Saxony, under the heads o{ *^ Louis e* s Alimony 
and Conditions'^ and *•* Allowance Raised and a Further 
Threat.^' Henry W. Fischer, Editor. 

Fischer's Foreign Letters, Publishers 



THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE 
By Henry W. Fischer 

Of Memoirs that are truly faithful records of royal 
lives, we have a few; the late Queen Victoria led the small 
number of crowned autobiographists only to discourage the 
reading of self-satisfied royal ego-portrayals forever, but in 
the Story of Louise of Saxony we have the main life epoch 
of a Cyprian Royal, who had no inducement to say anything 
false and is not afraid to say anything true. 

For the Saxon Louise wrote not to guide the hand of 
future official historiographers, or to make virtue distasteful 
to some sixty odd grandchildren, bored to death by the 
recital of the late "Mrs. John Brown's'' sublime goodness : — 
Louise wrote for her own amusement, even as Pepys did 
when he diarized the peccadilloes of the Second Charles' 
English and French "hures" (which is the estimate these 
ladies put upon themselves).* 

The ex-Crown Princess of Saxony suffered much in 
her youth by a narrow-minded, bigoted mother, a Sadist 
like the monstrous Torquemada; marriage, she imagined, 
spelled a rich husband, more lover than master; freedom 
from tyranny, paltry surroundings, interference. To her 
untutored mind, life at the Saxon Court meant right royal 

* "Be civil, good people, I am the English hure," said Nell 
Gwyn, addressing a London mob that threatened to storm her 
carriage, assuming that its occupant was the hated Frenchwoman. 

iii 



iv THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE 

splendor, liberty to do as one pleases, the companionship 
of agreeable, amusing and ready-to-serve friends. 

The Sad Saxon Court 

Her experience? Instead of the Imperial mother who 
took delight in cutting her children's faces with diamonds 
and exposing her daughters to the foul machinations of 
worthless teachers — she acquired a father-in-law (Prince, 
afterwards King George) whose pretended affection was 
but a share of his all-encompassing hatred, whose breath 
was a serpent's, whose veins were flowing with gall; the 
supposed chevaleresque husband turned out a walking dic- 
tionary of petty indecencies and gross vulgarities when in 
a favorable mood, a brawler at other times, a coward 
always. 

As to money — Louise wished for nothing better "than 
to be an American multi-millionaire's daughter for a week" ! 
Amusements were few and frowned upon. 

Liberty? None outside of a general permit to eat, 
drink and couple like animals in pasture, was recognized or 
tolerated. Nor could the royal young woman make friends. 
Her relatives-by-marriage were mostly freaks, and all were 
unbearable; her entourage a collection of spies and flunkeys. 

If charity-bazaars, pious palaver, and orphaned babies' 
diapers had not been the sole topic of conversation at court; 
if there had been intellectual enjoyment of any kind, Louise 



I 



THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE V 

might never have taken up her pen. As it was : "This Diary 
is intended to contain my innermost thoughts, my ambi- 
tions, my promises for the future, Myself, * * * These 
pages are my Father-Confessor. I confess to myself. * * ♦ 
And as I start in writing letters to myself, it occurs to me 
that my worse self may be corresponding with my better 
self, or vice-versa." 

At any rate she thinks "this Diary business will be 
quite amusing." 

Louise's Amusing Writings 

It is. The world always laughs at the — husband of a 
woman whose history isn't one long yawn. 

Nor is Louise content with a bust picture.* She gives 
full length portraits of herself, family, friends, enemies, and 
lovers, which latter she picks hap-hazard among commoners 
and the nobility. Only one of them was a prince of the 
blood, and he promptly proved the most false and dishon- 
orable of the lot. 

When Louise's pen-pictures do not deal with her 
amororos, they focus invariably emperors and princes, kings 
and queens, — contemporary personages whose acquaintance, 

* "Your biography give a faithful portrait of self," said 
Fontenelle, the famous French Academician, to an i8th Century 
Marquise, "but I miss the record of your gallantries." 

''Ah, Monsieur, c'est que je ne me suis peinte qu'en huste!" 
replied her ladyship. 



Vi THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE 

by way of the newspapers and magazines, we all enjoy to 
the full, as "stern rulers,'' "sacrificers to the public weal," 
"martyrs of duty," "indefatigable workers," "examples of 
abstinence," and "high-mindedness" — everything calculated 
to make life a burden to the ordinary mortal. 



1 



Kings in Fiction and in Reality 

But kings and emperors, we are told by these distant 
observers, are built that way; they would not be happy 
unless they made themselves unhappy for their people's sake. 
And as to queens and empresses, — they simply couldn't live 
if they didn't inspect their linen closets daily, stand over a 
broiling cook-stove, or knit socks for the offspring of in- 
ebriated bricklayers "and sich." 

Witness Louise, Imperial and Royal Highness, fArch- 
duchess of Austria, Princess of Hungary and Tuscany, 
Crown Princess of Saxony, etc., etc., smash these paper 
records of infallible royal rectitude, and superhuman, al- 
most inhuman, royal probity ! 

Had she castigated her own kind after royalty un- 
kenneled her, neck and crop, her story might admit of 
doubt, but she wrote these things while in the full enjoy- 
ment of her rank and station, before her title as future queen 
was ever questioned or menaced. 

Her Diary finishes with her last night in the Dresden 
palace. We do not hear so much as the clatter of the car- 



THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE Vll 

riage wheels that carried her and "Richard" to her un- 
frocking as princess of the blood, — in short, our narrator is 
not prejudiced, on the defensive, or soured by disfranchise- 
ment. She had no axes to grind while writing; for her all 
kings dropped out of the clouds; the lustre that surrounds 
a king never dimmed while her Diary was in progress, and 
before she ceases talking to us she never "ate of the fish that 
hath fed of that worm that hath eat of a king/' 

Yet this large folio edition of obscenites royale, chock 
full, at the same time, of intensely human and interesting 
facts, notable and amusing things, as enthralling as a novel 
by Balzac, — Louise's life record in sum and substance, since 
her carryings-on after she doffed her royal robes for the 
motley of the free woman are of no historical, and but scant 
human interest. 

The prodigality of the mass of indictments Louise 
launches against royalty as every-day occurrences, reminds 
one of the great Catharine Sforza, Duchess of Milan's clever 
mot. When the enemy captured her children she merely 
said, "I retain the oven for more." 

Royal Scandals 

Such scandalmongering ! Only Her Imperial Highness 
doesn't see the obloquy, — sarcasm, cynicism and disparage- 
ment being royalty's every-day diet. 

Such gossiping ! But what else was there to do at a 



viil THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE 

court whose literature is tracts and whose theatre of action 
the drill grounds. 

But for all that, Louise^s Diary is history, because its 
minute things loom big in connection with social and po- 
litical results, even as its horrors and abnormalities help 
paint court life and the lives of kings and princes as they 
are, not as royalties' sycophants and apologizers would have 
us view them. 

There is a perfect downpour of books eulogizing mon- 
archs and monarchy; royal governments spend millions of 
the people's money to uphold and aggrandize exalted king- 
ship and seedy princeship alike; three-fourths of the press 
of Europe is swayed by king-worship, or subsidized to sing 
the praises of "God's Anointed," while in our own country 
the aping of monarchical institutions, the admiration for 
court life, the idealization of kings, their sayings, doings 
and pretended superiority, as carried on by the multi-rich, 
are undermining love for the Republic and the institutions 
our fathers fought and bled for. 



-*«>* 



Un-American Folly 

It's the purpose of the present volume to show the 
guilty folly of such un-American, un-republican, wholly un- 
justifiable, reprehensible and altogether ridiculous King- 
worship, not by argument, or a more or less fanciful story, 
but by the unbiased testimony of an "insider." 



THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE IX 

Let it be considered, above all, that a member of the 
proudest Imperial family in the wide, wide world demon- 
strates, by inference, the absurdity' of King-worship ! 

Of course, whether or not you'll obey the impassioned 
appeal of the corner sermonizer, who, espying a number of 
very decolletee ladies passing by in a carriage, cried out: 
''Quand vous voyez ces tetons rebondies, qui se montrent 
avec tant d'impudence, handez! handez! handez! vous — les 
yeux!" is a matter for you to decide. 



Seek not for descriptions of ceremonials and festivities 
in these pages; only imbeciles among kings are interested 
in such wearying spectacles, intended to dazzle the multitude. 
The Czar Paul, who became insane and had his head knocked 
off by his own officers, appeared upon the scene vacated by 
his brilliant mother, Catharine the Great, with a valise full 
of petty regulations, ready drawn up, by which, every day, 
every hour, every minute, he announced some fooHsh change, 
punishment or favor, but I often saw Kaiser Wilhelm and 
other kings look intensely bored and disgusted when obliged 
to attend dull and superfluous court or government func- 
tions. 

Royalty's Loose Talk 

But for genuine expressions of the royal self consult 
Louise. Those who think that royalty shapes its language 



X THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE 

in accordance with the plural of the personal pronoun, some- 
times used in state papers, will be shocked at the "neglige 
talk'* of one royal highness and the "rag-time'' expressions 
of others. Louise, herself, assures us over and over again 
that she "feels like a dog," a statement no self-respecting 
publisher's reader would allow to pass, yet I was told by a 
friend of King Frederick of Denmark that he loved to com- 
pare his "all-highest person" to a ''mut" and I remember 
a letter from Victor Emanuel II to his great Minister, Count 
Cavour, solemnly protesting that he (the King) was "no 
ass," 

When the same Danish ruler, the seventh of his name, 
was asked why, in thunder, he married a common street 
walker (the Rasmussen, afterwards created Countess Dan- 
ner), he cried out with every indication of gusto: "You 
don't know how deliciously common that girl is." 

Frederick's words explain the hostler marriages of sev- 
eral royal women mentioned by Louise, as well as her own 
and loving family's broulleries of the fish-wife order, re- 
peatedly described in the Diary. 

Royalty Threatens a Royal Woman 

It is safe to say that few $15 flats in all the United 
States witnessed more outrageous family jars than were 
fought out in the gilded halls of the Dresden palace be- 
tween Louise and father-in-law and Louise and husband. 



THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE XI 

Threats of violence are frequent; Prince George promises 
his daughter-in-law a sound beating at the hands of the 
Crown Prince and the Crown Princess confesses that she 
would rather go to bed with a drunken husband, booted and 
spurred, than risk a sword thrust. 

At the coronation of the present Czar, at Moscow, I 
mistook the Duke of Edinburgh, brother of the late King 
Edward, for a policeman attached to the British Ambassa- 
dor, so exceedingly commonplace a person in appearance, 
speech and manner he seemed; Louise has a telling chapter 
on the mean looks of royalty, but fails to see the connection 
between that and royalty's coarseness. 

Perhaps it wasn't the "commonness" of Lady Emma 
Hamilton, child of the slums, impersonator of risque stage 
pictures, and mistress of the greatest naval hero of all 
times, that appealed primarily to Louise's grand-aunt. Queen 
Caroline of Naples, but the abandon of the beautiful Eng- 
lishwoman, her reckless exposure of person, her freedom 
of speech, certainly sealed the friendship between the ad- 
venturess and the despotic ruler who deserved the epithet 
of "bloody" no less than Mary of England. 

Covetous Royalty 

Royal covetousness is another subject dwelt on by 
Louise. We learn that in money matters the kings and 
princes of her acquaintance — and her acquaintance em- 



xii THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE 

braces all the monarchs of Europe— are "dirty," that royal 
girls are given in marriage to the highest bidder, and that 
poor princes have no more chance to marry a rich princess 
than a drayman an American multi-millionaire's daughter. 

Louise gives us a curious insight into the Pappenheim- 
Wheeler marriage embroglio, and refers to some noble 
families that made their money in infamous trades; 
that the Kaiser adopted the title of one of these un- 
speakables ("Count of Henneberg") she doesn't seem to 
know. 

We hear of imperial and royal highnesses, living at 
public expense and for whom honors and lucrative employ- 
ment are exacted from the people, who at home figure as 
poor relations, obliged to submit to treatment that a self- 
respecting "boots" or "omnibus" would resent. 

Here we have a royal prince of twenty-four or twenty- 
five subjected to kicks and cuffs by his uncle, who happens 
to be king — no indignity either to the slugged or the slug- 
ger in that — but when a pretty princess gets a few ''Hochs" 
more than an ugly, mouse-colored majesty, she is all but 
flayed for "playing to the gallery." 

"High-minded" royalty robs widows and despoils 
orphans; re-introduces into the family obsolete punishments 
forbidden by law; maintains in- the household a despicable 
spy system! Its respect for womanhood is on a par with 
a Bushman's; of authors, "lickspittles" only count; litera- 



THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE XIU 

ture, unless it kowtows to the "all-highest" person, is the 
"trade of Jew scribblers." 

Right Royal Manners 

As to manners, what do you think of kings and princes 
and grand-dukes who, at ceremonial dinners, pound the 
table to "show that they are boss"? 

Louise tells of an emperor at a foreign court ignoring 
one of his hostesses absolutely, even refusing to acknowl- 
edge her salute by a nod. We hear of expectant royal heirs 
who engage in wild fandangoes of merriment while their 
father, brother or cousin lies dying. 

"Personal matter," you say? "A typical case," I retort. 

"Ask the Due du Maine to wait till I am dead before 
he indulges in the full extent of his joy," said the dying 
Louis XIV, when the De Profundis in the death chamber 
was suddenly interrupted by the sound of violent laughter 
from the adjoining gallery. And the fact that almost every 
new king sets aside the testament of his predecessor, — is this 
not evidence of the general callowness of feeling prevailing 
in royal circles? 

The Irish Famine and Royalty 

In famine times, the kings and princes of old drove the 
starving out of town to die of hunger in the fields, and as 
late as 1772 one hundred and fifty thousand Saxons died 



Xiv THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE 

of hunger under the "glorious reign" of Louise's grand- 
father-by-marriage, Frederick Augustus III. And the "Life 
of Queen Victoria," approved by the Court of St. James, 
unblushingly informs us that in 1847 "Her Most Gracious 
Majesty" was chiefly concerned about investing to good 
profit the revenues of the Prince of Wales, her infant son 
(about four hundred thousand dollars per annum). 

Yet, while Victoria pinched the boy's tenants to extort 
an extra penny for him, and "succeeded in saving all but 
four thousand pounds sterling" of his imperial allowance, 
the population of Ireland was reduced two millions by the 
most dreadful famine the world remembers ! 

Before the famine Ireland had a population of 8,196,597, 
against a population of 15,914,148 in England and Wales, 
while Scotland's population was 2,620,184. 

Six years after the famine Ireland's population was 
6,574,278, Scotland's 2,888,742, England and Wales' 17,927,- 
609. To-day Ireland's population is less than Scotland's, 
the exact figures being: Scotland 4,759,445, Ireland 4,381,- 
951, England and Wales 36,075,269. 

Royalty Utterly Heartless 
However, as the waste of two million human lives, the 
loss of four millions in population, subsequently enabled the 
Prince of Wales to tie the price of a dukedom* in diamonds 

* The Prince of Wales' revenue is derived from the Duchy of 
Cornwall, amounting to about half a million dollars per year. 



I 



THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE XV 

around a French dancer's neck and to support a hundred 
silly harlots in all parts of Europe, who cares? 

According to Louise and — others, royalty is the mean- 
est, the most heartless, the most faithless and the most 
unjust of the species — that in addition she herself disgraced 
its womanhood, after the famous Louise of Prussia rehabili- 
tated queenship, is regrettable, but to call it altogether un- 
expected would be rank euphemism. 

Louise's Character 

If Louise had lived at the time of Phryne, the philoso- 
phers would have characterized her as "an animal with 
long hair"; if he had known her, the great Mirabeau might 
have coined his pet phrase, "a human that dresses, un- 
dresses and — talks" (or writes) for Louise; as a matter 
of fact, she is one of those ''Jansenists" of love who be- 
lieve in the utter helplessness of natural woman to turn 
down a good looking man. 

Her great grand-uncle, Emperor Francis, recorded 
on a pane of glass overlooking the courtyard of the 
Vienna Hofburg his opinion of women in the brief 
observation: ''Chaque femme varie" (Women always 
change). 

This is true of Louise and also untrue of her. While 
occupying her high position at the Saxon court she was 
fixed in the determination to make a cuckold of her hus- 



XVI THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE 

band, though Frederick Augustus, while a pumpkin, wasn't 
fricasseed in snow by any means. 

The process gave her palpitations, but, like Ninon, she 
was ''so happy when she had palpitations." 

Changed Lovers Frequently 

As to lovers, she changed them as often as she had 
to, never hesitating to pepper her steady romances by 
playing "everybody's wife," chance permitting, as she in- 
timates naively towards the close of the Diary. 

Qualms of conscience she knows not, but of pride of 
ancestry, of insistence on royal prerogatives, she has plenty 
and to spare. 

"My great grand-aunt, Marie Antoinette, did this"; 
"my good cousins d'Orleans" (three of them) "allowed 
themselves to be seduced"; "ma cousine de Saxe-Coburg 
laughs at conventionalities," — there you have the foundation 
of the iniquitous philosophy of the royal Lais. And for 
the rest — when she is queen, all will be well. 

Her Court — A Seraglio 

Louise's fixed idea was that, as Queen of Saxony, she 
had but to say the word to establish a court a la Catharine 
II; time and again she refers to the great Empress's male 
seraglio, and to the enormous sums she squandered on her 
favorites. If the Diarist had known that Her Majesty of 



THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE XVll 

Russia, when in the flesh, never suffered to be longer than 
twenty-four hours without a lover, Louise, no doubt, would 
have made the most elaborate plans to prevent, in her own 
case, a possible interregnum of five minutes even. 

She thought she held the whip hand because a king 
cannot produce princes without his wife, while the wife can 
produce princes without the king; besides Frederick Augus- 
tus was no paragon, and he who plants horns, must not 
grudge to wear them. 

A wanton's calculations, it will be argued, — but Louise's 
records show that her husband, the king-to-be, fell in with 
her main idea, — that he forgave the unfaithful wife, the dis- 
graced princess, because, as Queen, her popularity would be 
"a great asset." 

And Americans, our women of whom we are so proud, 
are asked to bow down to such sorry majesties ! 

Sired and ''Cousined" by Lunatics 

And is there no excuse for so much baseness in high 
places? Our royal Diarist offers none, but her family his- 
tory is a telling apology. 

Be it remembered that Louise is not so much an Aus- 
trian as a Wittelsbacher of the royal house of Bavaria that 
gave to the world two mad kings, Louis II and Otho, the 
present incumbent of the throne, besides a number of eccen- 
trics, among others Louise's aunts, the Empress Elizabeth 



XVlll THIS BOOK AND ITS PURPOSE 

and the Duchess d'Alencon, both dead; Crown Prince Ru- 
dolph of Austria, her cousin, was also undoubtedly insane, 
the result of breeding in and in, Austrian, Bourbon and 
Wittelsbach stock, all practically of the same parentage, in 
a mad mix-up, the insane Wittelsbachers predominating. 

To cap the climax, Louise has eighteen or nineteen 
insane cousins on her mother's side ! 



Once upon a time Louise's prosaic and stupid great- 
uncle, as a young husband, felt dreadfully scandalized when 
his Queen, Marie Antoinette, bombarded him with spit- 
balls. 

"What can I do with her?" he asked "Minister Sans- 
culotte" Dumouriez. 

"I would spike the cannon. Sire,"" replied the courtier. 

''Enclouer le canon" if performed in time, might have 
saved Louise, but I doubt it. 

Henry W. Fischer. 



KITH AND KIN OF THE EX-CROWN PRINCESS OF 

SAXONY 

Louise's Own Family 

The royal woman whose life's history is recorded in 
this volume was born Louise Antoinette, Daughter of the 
late Grand Duke Ferdinand IV of Tuscany (died January 
17, 1908) and the Dowager Grand Duchess Alice, nee Prin- 
cess Bourbon of Parma. 



Louise has four brothers, among them the present head 
of the Tuscany family, Joseph Ferdinand, who dropped the 
obsolete title of Grand Duke and is officially known as 
Archduke of Austria-Hungary. 

He is a brigadier general, commanding the Fifth Aus- 
trian Infantry, and unmarried. 

Better known is Louise's older brother, the former 
Archduke Leopold, who dropped his title and dignities, and, 
as a Swiss citizen, adopted the name of Leopold Wulfling. 
This Leopold is generally regarded as a black sheep. 

Louise more often refers to him in the present volume 
than to any other member of her family. 

He is now a commoner by his own, more or less en- 
xix 



XX KITH AND KIN OF EX-CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 

forced, abdication, as Louise is a commoner by decree of 
her chief-of-family, the Austrian Emperor, Francis Joseph, 
dated Vienna, January 2"], 1903. 

A month before above date the Saxon court had con- 
ferred on Louise the title of Countess Montiguoso, while, 
on her own part, she adopted the fanciful cognomen of 
Louise of Tuscany. 

Of Louise's two remaining brothers, one. Archduke 
Peter, serves in the Austrian army as Colonel of the Thirty- 
second Infantry, while Archduke Henry is Master of Horse 
in the Sixth Bavarian Dragoons. 

Only one of Louise's four sisters is married, the oldest, 
Anna, now Princess Johannes of Hohenlohe-Bartenstein. 

The unmarried sisters are Archduchesses Margareta 
(31 years old), Germana (28 years old), Agnes {22 years 
old). 



Mother Comes of Mentally Tainted Stock 

Louise's mother, nee Princess Alice of Parma, is the 
only surviving sister of the late Duke Robert, who left 
twenty children, all living, and of whom eighteen or nine- 
teen are either imbeciles or raving lunatics, the present 
head of the house, Duke Henry, belonging to the first cate- 
gory of mentally unsound. 

Louise's first cousin, Prince Elias of Parma, the sev- 



KITH AND KIN OF EX-CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY XXI 

enth son, is accounted sound, but Elias's sister, Zita (the 
twelfth child), developed maniacal tendencies since her mar- 
riage to Archduke Karl Francis Joseph, heir-presumptive 
to the crown of Austria-Hungary. 



Francis Joseph's Autocratic Rule 
Louise Formerly in Line of Austrian Succession 

Louise was in the line of the Austrian succession until, 
upon her marriage to the Crown Prince of Saxony (1891), 
she officially renounced her birthrights. 

Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria-Hungary is Louise^s 
grand-uncle as well as chief of the imperial family of 
Austria, the royal family of Hungary, the Grand-ducal fam- 
ily of Tuscany (now extinct as far as the title goes), and 
of the Estes, which is the Ducal Line of Modena, extinct 
in the male line. Finally he is recognized as chief by the 
ducal family of Parma, descendants of the Spanish Haps- 
burgs. 

Emperor Francis Joseph rules all the Hapsburgers, Aus- 
trian, Hungarian, and those of Tuscany, of Este, of Mo- 
dena and Parma, autocratically, his word being law in the 
family. Even titles conferred by birth can be taken away 
by him, as exemplified in the case of Louise and her brother 
Leopold. 



Xxii KITH AND KIN OF EX-CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 

Royal Saxons 

As a member of the Austrian imperial family, the Haps- 
burgers, founded in 883, Louise ranked higher than her 
husband, the Crown Prince of the petty Kingdom of Sax- 
ony, whose claim to the royal title dates from 1806, — a gift 
of the Emperor Napoleon. 

She married Frederick Augustus November 21, 1891, 
while the latter's uncle reigned as King Albert of Saxony 
(1873 to 1902). 

Louise's father-in-law, up to then known as Prince 
George, succeeded his brother June 19, 1902. He was then 
a widower and his family consisted of: 

Princess Mathilde, unmarried. 

The Crown Prince Frederick Augustus, husband of 
Louise, 

Princess Marie-Josepha, wife of Archduke Otho of 
Austria, 

Prince Johann George, at that time married to Isabelle 
of Wiirttemberg, and 

Prince Max. The latter subsequently shelved his 
title and entered the Church July 26, 1896. He is 
a professor of canonical law and slated for a German 
bishopric. 

At the time of Prince George's ascension, there was 
also living the late King Albert's widow, Queen Caroline, 
nee Princess of Wasa, since dead. 



KITH AND KIN OF EX-CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY XXlll 

The Marchesa Rapallo, nee Princess Elizabeth of Sax- 
ony, is a sister of the late King George. 

Louise and Her Father-in-Law 

During King George's short reign, Louise ran away 
from the Saxon court, end of November, 1902. 

On February 11, 1903, divorce was pronounced against 
her by a special court assembled by King George. 

Louise was adjudged the guilty party and deprived of 
the name and style of Crown Princess of Saxony. As pre- 
viously (January 27) the Austrian Emperor had forbid- 
den her to use the name and title of Austrian Archduchess 
and Imperial and royal Princess, Louise would have been 
nameless but for the rank and title of Countess Montiguoso, 
conferred upon her by King George. 



Louise's Alimony Conditional 

At the same time Louise accepted from the court of 

Saxony a considerable monthly allowance on condition that 

"she undertake nothing liable to compromise the reigning 

family, either by criticism or story, either by word, deed 

or in writing." 

♦ * * 

Frederick Augustus, King 
Upon his father's death, Frederick Augustus succeeded 



Xxiv KITH AND KIN OF EX-CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 

King George October 15, 1904. He is now forty-seven 
years old, while Louise is forty-two. 

The King of Saxony has six children by Louise, three 
boys and three girls, five born in wedlock, the youngest 
born without wedlock. The children born in wedlock 
are: 

The present Crown Prince, born 1893. 

Frederick Christian, likewise born in 1893. 

Ernest, born 1896. 

Margaret, born 1900. 

And Marie Alix, born 1901. 

The youngest Princess of Saxony, so called, Anna 
Monica, was born by Louise more than six months after 
she left her husband and nearly three months after her 
divorce. 

Louise desired to retain Anna Monica in her own cus- 
tody, but though the child's fathership is in doubt, to say 
the least, Frederick Augustus insisted upon the little one's 
transference to his care. 



Allowance Raised and a Further Threat 

King Frederick Augustus raised Louise's allowance to 
$12,000 per year, "which alimony ceases if the said Countess 
Montiguoso shall commit, either personally, directly or 
indirectly, any act in writing or otherwise liable to injure 
the reputation of King Frederick Augustus or members of 



KITH AND KIN OF EX-CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY XXV 

the royal family of Saxony, or if the said Countess Monti- 

guoso contributes to any such libellous publication in any 

manner or form/' 

♦ 4c * 

The Divorce of Royal Couple Illegal 

After divorce was pronounced against her, Louise de- 
clined to accept the decree of the court, pronouncing the 
proceedings illegal on the ground that both she and hus- 
band are Catholics and that the Roman Catholic Church, 
under no circumstances, recognizes divorce. Her protest 
gained importance from the fact that her marriage to Fred- 
erick Augustus was solemnized by the rites of the Roman 
Catholic Church. The Saxon court, on the other hand, 
justified its own decision by basing same on a certain civil 
ceremony entered into by Louise and Frederick Augustus 
previous to the church marriage. 



Louise Marries a Second Time 

When Louise realized in the course of years that Fred- 
erick Augustus would not take her back, she changed her 
mind as to the illegality of her divorce and married, Sep- 
tember 25, 1907, Enrico Toselli, an Italian composer and 
pianist of small reputation. 

This marriage was performed civilly. They have one 



XXvi KITH AND KIN OF EX-CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 

child, a boy, about whose custody the now legally separated 
parents have instituted several actions in law. The boy 
has now been allotted to the care of Toselli's mother. 

King Did Not Marry Again 

King Frederick Augustus, though by the laws of Sax- 
ony and Germany allowed to contract a second marriage, 
has not availed himself of the license, probably in deference 
to the wishes of the Vatican. At the same time he spurned 
all of Louise's attempts at reconciliation, the most dramatic 
of which was her coup de tele of December, 1904, when 
she went to Dresden "to see her children," was arrested at 
the palace gate and conducted out of the kingdom by high 
police officials. 



Other Royalties Mentioned in This Volume 

Louise refers, in her Diary, to the Kaiser as "cousin." 
If there be any relationship between her and William, it is 
that imposed by the Saxon marriage, Saxon princes and 
princesses having frequently intermarried with the royal 
and princely Hohenzollerns, despite the differences of re- 
ligion. There are four courts of Saxony despite that of 
Dresden: Weimar, Meiningen, Altenburg and Coburg and 
Gotha. 

The latter duchy's ruler, Karl Eduard, is of English 



KITH AND KIN OF EX-CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY XXVli 

descent, a son of the late Duke of Albany. Hence, Louise's 
cousinship with Victoria Melita, sometime Grand Duchess 
of Hesse, now Grand Duchess Kyril of Russia. 

Of course, Louise is closely related to all the Orleans 
and Bourbons. 

Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, who died on the 
scaffold at Paris, October i6, 1793, she calls her great- 
grand-aunt and namesake, claiming, at the same time, most 
of the Kings and princes of France of the seventeenth and 
eighteenth centuries as relatives. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I 

MOTHERHOOD 

PAGE 

A sterile Royal Family once fruitful — Diary true record of 
self — Long legs of Countess Solms — A child only be- 
cause he can't help it — Wet nurse to Socialist brat — 
Royal permit for nursing — Royal negligee talk — A Saxon 
failing i 



CHAPTER n 

THE SWEET FAMILY 

Husband loving, but family nasty — Money considerations — 
Brutal caresses in public — Pests in the family — Awful 
serenity — Meddle with angels' or devils' affairs — Father- 
in-law's gritty kiss 7 



CHAPTER in 

WEEPING WILLOW — EMBLEM ROYAL 

A pious fraud — Theresa Mayer — Character of the Queen — 
Mopishness rampant ii 



XXX CONTENTS 

CHAPTER IV 

MY UNPLEASANT YOUTH 

PAGE 

Father hard to get along with — Royal imaginations— Kings 
cursing other kings — Poverty and pretense — Piety that 
makes children suffer — Up at five to pray on cold 
stones — Chilblains and prayer iS 

CHAPTER V 

A FIERCE DISCIPLINARIAN 

Diamonds used to punish children — Face object of attacks — 
Grunting and snorting at the royal table — Blood flow- 
ing at dinner — My brother jumps out of a window . . 19 

CHAPTER VI 

LEOPOLD DEFENDS MY HONOR AT HIS PERIL 

Punished for objecting to familiarities — Awful names I was 
called — Locked in the room with wicked teacher — De- 
fend myself with burning lamp — My brother nearly kills 
my would-be assailant 23 

CHAPTER Vn 

PRINCES AND PRINCESSES DANCE TO THE TUNE OF THE WHIP 

The result shows in the character of rulers — Why English 
kings and princes are superior to the Continental kind — 
Leopold's awful revenge — Mother acts the tigress — Her 
mailed fist — "I forbid Your Imperial Highness to see 
that dog" 27 



CONTENTS XXXI 

CHAPTER VIII 

PLANNING TO GET A HUSBAND FOR ME 

PAGE 

Dissecting possible wooers at Vienna — Royalty after money, 
not character — *'He is a Cohen, not a Coburg" — Prince 
who looked like a Jew counter-jumper in his Sunday 
best — Balkan princes tabooed by Francis Joseph — A 
good time for the girls — Army men commanded to at- 
tend us 35 

CHAPTER IX 

LOVE-MAKING 

The fascinating Baron — The man's audacity — Putting the 
question boldly — Real love-making — Risque stories for 
royalty 41 



CHAPTER X 

MY POPULARITY RENDERS GEORGE DYSPEPTIC 

The Cudgel-Majesty — Prince George's intrigues — No four- 
horse coach for Princess — Popular demonstration in my 
favor — "All-highest" displeasure 45 

CHAPTER XI 

SCOLDED FOR BEING POPULAR 

Entourage spied upon by George's minions — My husband 
proves a weakling — I disavow the personal compliment — 
No more intelligent than a king should be . . -53 



XXXll CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XII 

ROYAL DISGRACE — LIGHTNING AND SHADOWS 

PAGE 

Ordered around by the Queen — Give thanks to a bully — 
Jealous of the "mob's" applause — "The old monkey after 
'Hochs'" — Criticizing the "old man" — Royalty's plea for 
popularity — Proposed punishments for people refusing 
to love royalty . . 57 

CHAPTER XIII 

UNSPEAKABLE LITTLENESSES OF PETTY COURTS 

Another quarrel with my husband — Personal attendant to a 
corpse — Killing by pin pricks — The mythical three ''How 
art thou'sf — Unwanted sympathy from my inferiors — 
Pride of the decapitated Queen of France is in me — 
Lovers not impossible — Court to blame for them — My 
husband acts cowardly — Brutalizes my household — I 
lock myself in 6^ 

CHAPTER XIV 

IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ETHICS TRANSFERRED TO DRESDEN 

My husband's reported escapade — Did he give diamonds to a 
dancing girl? — His foolish excuses — "I am your pal" — 
A restaurant scene in St. Petersburg — The birthday 
suit 71 

CHAPTER XV 

ROYALTY NOT PRETTY, AND WHY 

Fecundity royal women's greatest charm — How to have 
beautiful children yy 



CONTENTS XXXlll 

CHAPTER XVI 

MORE JEALOUSIES OF THE GREAT 

PAGE 

Men and women caress me with their eyes — Some disrespect- 
ful sayings and doings of mine — First decided quarrel 
with Frederick Augustus — I go to the theatre in spite 
of him 8i 

CHAPTER XVn 

THE ROYAL PRINCE, WHO BEHAVES LIKE A DRUNKEN BRICKLAYER 

I face the music, but my husband runs away — Prince George 
can't look me in the eye — He roars and bellows — Ad- 
vocates wife-beating — I defy him — German classics — 
*7ew literature" Auto da fe ordered 85 

CHAPTER XVni 

I DEFY THEM 

Laughter and pleasant faces for me — Frederick Augustus re- 
fuses to back me, but I don't care — We quarrel about 
my reading — He professes to gross ignorance . . .91 

CHAPTER XIX 

ATTEMPTED VIOLENCE DEFEATED BY FIRMNESS 

Frederick Augustus seeks to carry out his father's brutal 
threats — Orders and threats before servants — I posi- 
tively lefuse to be ordered about — Frederick Augustus 
plays Mrs. Lot — Enjoying myself at the theatre . . 95 



XXXIV CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XX 

TITLED SERVANTS LOW AND CUNNING 

PAGE 

George tries to rob me of my confidante — Enter the King's 
spy, Baroness Tisch in her true character — Punishment 
of one royal spy 99 

CHAPTER XXI 

BANISHMENT 

I am ordered to repair to a country house with the hated spy 
as my Grand Mistress — My first impulse to go home, 
but afraid parents won't have me 103 



CHAPTER XXn 

"poor relations'" in royal houses 

Myself and Frederick Augustus quarrel and pound table — 
The Countess Cosel's golden vessel — Off to Brighton — 
Threat of a beating — I provoke shadows of divorce — 
King threatens force — More defiance on my part — I 
humble the King and am allowed to invite my brother 
Leopold 105 



CHAPTER XXHI 

A SERVANT-TYRANT 

My correspondence is not safe from the malicious woman 
appointed Grand Mistress — Lovers at a distance and by 
correspondence — Fell in love with a leg . . . .115 



CONTENTS XXXV 

CHAPTER XXIV 

MORE TYRANNY OF A TITLED SERVANT 

PAGE 

My daily papers seized, and only milk-and-water clippings 
are submitted — "King's orders" — Grand Mistress's ve- 
racity doubted — My threats of suspension cow her . .119 

CHAPTER XXV 

THE TWO BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY UNITED 

Leopold upon my troubles and his own — Imperial Haps- 
burgs that, though Catholics, got divorces or married 
divorced women — Books that are full of guilty knowl- 
edge, according to royalty — A mud-hole lodging for one 
Imperial Highness — Leopold's girl — What I think of 
army officers' wives — Their anonymous letters — Leo- 
pold's money troubles — We will fool our enemies by 
feigning obedience 123 

CHAPTER XXVI 

FREDERICK AUGUSTUS CONTINUES VERY RAW 

Manners a la barracks natural to royal princes — Names I 
am called — My ladies scandalized — Leopold turned over 
a new leaf, according to agreement, and is well treated 
— The King grateful to me for having "influenced Leo- 
pold to be good" 129 

CHAPTER XXVII 

PRINCE MAX MAKES LOVE TO ME 

Wants me to consult him on all spiritual matters — Warns me 
against the Kaiser, the heretic bishop — Princes as ill- 
mannered as Russian-Jew up-starts 133 



XXXVl CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XXVIII 

THE SHAH OF PERSIA FALLS IN LOVE WITH ME 

PAGE 

The "animal" and his show of diamonds and rubies — Over- 
come by love he treats me like a lady of the harem — 
On the defensive — The King of kings an ill-behaved 
brute — Eats like a pig and affronts Queen — Wiped off 
greasy hands on my state robe — When ten thousand 
gouged-out eyes carpeted his throne — Offers of jewels 
— "Does he take me for a ballet girl?" — The Shah al- 
most compromises me — King, alarmed, abruptly ends 
dinner — I receive presents from him 135 



CHAPTER XXIX 

THE SHAH COMPROMISES ME IN PUBLIC 

Has only eyes for me at the grand manoeuvres, and I can't 
drive him from my carriage — Ignores the King and the 
military spectacle — Calls me his adored one — Court in 
despair — Shah ruins priceless carpets to make himself 
a lamb stew 139 



CHAPTER XXX 

MY LIFE AT COURT BECOMES UNBEARABLE 

Laughter a crime — Disappointed Queen lays down the law 
for my behavior — Frederick Augustus sometimes fighting 
drunk — Draws sword on me — Prince George would have 
me beaten — To bed with his boots on 143 



CONTENTS XXXVll 

CHAPTER XXXI 

PRISON FOR PRINCES THAT OPPOSE THE KING 

PAGE 

Duke of Saxony banished — Cut off from good literature 
even — Anecdote concerning the Grand Dauphin and his 
"kettledrums" — A royal prince's garrison life — His asso- 
ciation with lewd women 147 



CHAPTER XXXII 

PRINCE GEORGE SHOWN THE DOOR BY GRAND-DUCHESS MELITA 

A royal lady who walks her garden attired in a single dia- 
phanous garment — Won't stand for any meddling — 
Called impertinent — My virtuous indignation assumed — 
A flirtation at a distance — An audacious lover — The 
Grand Mistress hoodwinked — Matrimonial horns for 
Kaiser — The banished Duke dies — Princes scolded like 
school-boys 151 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

melita's love affairs and mine 

The Grand Duchess tells me how she cudgeled George — 
Living dictaphone employed — Shows him who is mis- 
tress of the house — Snaps fingers in Prince George's 
face — Debate about titles — "A sexless thing of a hus- 
band" — Conference between lover and husband — Grand 
Duke .doesn't object to his wife's lover, but lover ob- 
jects to "his paramour being married'' .... 157 



XXXVIU CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XXXIV 

MORE ABOUT THE SWEET ROYAL FAMILY LIFE 

PAGE 
"Closed season" for petty meannesses — A prince who enjoys 
himself like a pig — Why princes learn trades — A family 
dinner to the accompaniment of threats and smashing of 
table — The Duke's widow and children robbed of their 
inheritance by royal family — King confiscates testament . 163 

CHAPTER XXXV 

FLIRTATION DEVELOPS INTO LOVE 

At the theatre — My adorer must have felt my presence — 
Forgot his diplomacy — The mute salute — His good looks 
— His mouth a promise of a thousand sweet kisses — Our 
love won't be any painted business 169 

CHAPTER XXXVI 

COUNT BIELSK MAKES LOVE TO THE CROWN PRINCESS 

Fearless to indiscretion — He *'thou's" me — Puts all his 
chances on one card — Proposes a rendezvous — Shall I 
go or shall I not go? — Peril if I go and peril if I don't . 171 

CHAPTER XXXVII 

RAPID LOVE MAKING IN THE BOIS 

A discreet maid — ^'Remove thy glove" — Kisses of passion, 
pure kisses, powerful kisses — I see my lover daily — 
Countess Barnello offers "doves' nest" — Driving to 
rendezvous in state — "Naughty Louise/' who makes fun 
of George 177 



1 



CONTENTS XXXIX 

CHAPTER XXXVIII 
"in love there are no princesses^ only women'" 

PAGE 

A diplomatic trick — Jealous of Romano's past — The pact for 
life and the talisman — If there were a theatre fire the 
talisman would discover our love to the King — Some 
ill-natured reflections — Bernhardt's escapades cover up 
my tracks — The "black sheep" jumps his horse over a 
coffin — King gives him a beating — Bernhardt's mess- 
room lingo — Anecdotes of royal voluptuaries — Forces 
animals to devour each other — Naked ballet-girls as 
horses — Abnormals rule the world 183 

CHAPTER XXXIX 

MY PUNISHMENT 

I lose my lover — Quarrels with me because I did my duty 
as a mother — Royalty extols me for the same reason — 
My pride of kingship aroused by Socialist scribblers — 
Change my opinion as to Duke's widow — Parents arrive 
— Father and his alleged astrolatry — His finances dis- 
arranged by alimony payments — My uncle, the Em- 
peror, rebukes mother harshly for complaining of roue 
father 193 

CHAPTER XL 

A PLEBEIAN LOVER 

In need of a friend — My physician offers his friendship — I 
discover that he loves me, but he will never confess 
— I give him encouragement — We manage to persuade 
the King to further our intrigue — Not a bit repentant of 
my peccadilloes — Very submissive — Introduced to my 
lover's wife 199 



xl CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XLI 

AN ATROCIOUS ROYAL SCANDAL 

PAGE 

A royal couple that shall be nameless — The voluptuous 
Duchess— Her husband the worst of degenerates— 
"What monsters these royalties be" — Nameless outrages 
— A Duchess forced to have lovers — Ferdinand and I 
live like married folk — Duchess feared for her life — Her 
husband murdered her — I scold and humiliate my over- 
bearing Grand Mistress — The medical report too hor- 
rible to contemplate 205 



CHAPTER XUI^ 

I LOSE ANOTHER OF MY LOVERS 

Happily no scandal — Rewarded for bearing children — $1250 
— for becoming a mother — Royal poverty — Bernhardt, 
the black sheep, in hot water again — The King rebukes 
me for taking his part 213 



CHAPTER XLin 

THE CROWN PRINCESS QUELLS A RIOT 

Asked to play the coward, and I refuse — A hostler who 
would die for a look from me — Hostler marriages in 
royal houses — Anecdotes and unknown facts concern- 
ing royal ladies and their offspring — Refuse police es- 
cort and rioters acclaim me — Whole royal family proud 
of my feat 219 



CONTENTS xli 

CHAPTER XLIV 

THE NEW LOVER^ AND "l PLAY THE HUSSY FOR FAIr" 

PAGE 

Who is that most exquisite Vortdnzerf — A lovely boy — 
"Blush, good white paper" — I long for Henry — My eyes 
reflect love — "I must see you tonight. Arrange with 
Lucretia" — Sorry I ever loved a man before Henry — 
Poetry even — I try to get him an office at court — 
Afraid women will steal him 227 

CHAPTER XLV 

LOVE AND THE HAPPINESS IT CONVEYS 

My Grand Mistress suspects because I am so amiable — Pangs 
of jealousy — Every good-looking man pursued by women 
— A good story of my cousin, the Duchess Berri — We 
all go cycling together — The Vitzthums — Love making 
on the street — A mud bath 233 

CHAPTER XLVI 

FEARS FOR MY LOVE 

Some reflections on queens of old who punished recreant 
lovers — Henry was in debt and I gave him money — 
Indignities by which some of that money was earned — 
Husband accompanies me to Loschwitz — Reflections on 
Frederick Augustus's character 239 

CHAPTER XLVn 

love's INTERMEZZO 

Bernhardt takes advantage of my day-dreams — My husband's 
indolent gaucherie — Violent love-making — Ninon who 
loved families, not men — Does Bernhardt really love me ? 245 



Xlii CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XLVIII 

GRAND MISTRESS TELLS HUSBAND I KEEP A DIARY 

PAGE 

He wants to see it, but seems unsuspecting — Grand Mis- 
tress denies that she meant mischief, but I upbraid her 
unmercifully — Threaten to dismiss her like a thieving 
lackey 251 



CHAPTER XLIX 

ARISTOCRATIC VISITORS 

hear disquieting news about my lover's character — ^The 
aristocracy a dirty lot — Love-making made easy by titled 
friends — Anecdotes of Richelieu and the Duke of Orleans 
— The German nobleman who married Miss Wheeler and 
had to resign his birthright — The disreputable business 
the Pappenheims and other nobles used to be in — I am 
afraid to question my lover as to charges .... 255 



CHAPTER Li 

TO LIVE UNDER KINO's AND PRINCE GEORGE's EYE 

Abruptly ordered to the royal summer residence — The Vitz- 
thums and Henry take flight — Enmeshed by Prince 
George's intrigues — Those waiting for a crown have no 
friends — What I will do when Queen — No wonder Kings 
of old married only relatives — Interesting facts about 
relative marriages furnished by scientist .... 261 



CONTENTS Xliii 

CHAPTER LI 

COLD RECEPTION — ^ENEMIES ALL AROUND 

PAGE 

Frederick Augustus gives his views on adultery — Doesn*t 
care personally, but "the King knows" — "Thank God, 
the King is ill" — I am deprived of my children — Have 
I got the moral strength to defy my enemies? . . . 265 

CHAPTER LII 

PRINCE GEORGE REVEALS TO ME THE DEPTH OF HIS HATRED 

A terrible interview — "The devil will come to claim you" — 
Uncertain how much the King and Prince George know 
— I break into the nursery and stay with my children all 
day — Prince George insults me in my own rooms and 
threatens prison if I disobey him 269 

CHAPTER LHI 

REVOLVER IN HAND, I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION 

An insolent Grand Mistress, but of wonderful courage — Im- 
prisonment, threats to kill have no effect on her — Dis- 
regards my titles — My lover's souvenir and endearing 
words — How she caused Henry to leave me — My parox- 
ysms of rage — Henry's complete betrayal of me . . 273 

CHAPTER LIV 

FORCED TO DO PENANCE LIKE A TRAPPIST-MONK 

"By the King's orders" — I submit for the sake of my children 
— Must fast as well as pray — In delicate health, I in- 
sist upon returning to Dresden — Bernhardt, to avoid 
being maltreated by King, threatens him with his sword 
— The King's awful wrath — Bernhardt prisoner in Nos- 
sen — I escape, temporarily, protracted ennui . . . 279 



xliv 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER LV 



FRANCIS JOSEPH JOINS MY SAXON ENEMIES 



PAGE 



Cuts me dead before whole family — Everybody talks over 
my head at dinner — I refuse to attend more court fes- 
tivities — Husband protests because I won't stand for in- 
sult from Emperor — I give rein to my contempt for his 
family — Hypocrites, despoilers, gamblers, religious mani- 
acs, brutes — Benign lords to the people, tyrants at home 
— I cry for my children like a she-dog whose young 
were drowned 285 



CHAPTER LVI 

I AM DETERMINED TO DO AS I PLEASE 

I reject mother's tearful reproaches — I beard Prince George 
in his lair despite whining chamberlains — I tell him what 
I think of him, and he becomes frightened — Threatens 
madhouse — "I dare you to steal my children" — I win my 
point — and the children — "Her Imperial Highness re- 
grets" — Lots of forbidden literature — Precautions against 
intriguing Grand Mistress — The affair with Henry — 
was it a flower-covered pit to entrap me? — Castle Stol- 
pen and some of its awful history 291 



CHAPTER LVII 



I CONFESS TO PAPA 



King Albert dies and King George a very sick man — Papa's 
good advice — "You will be Queen soon" — A lovely old 
man, very much troubled 301 



CONTENTS Xlv 

CHAPTER LVIII 

MONSIEUR GIRON — RICHARD^ THE ARTIST 

PAGE 

The King asks me to superintend lessons by M. Giron — A 
most fascinating man — His Grecian eyes — He is a painter 
as well as a teacher — In love — Careless whether I am 
caught in my lover^s arms — "Richard" talks anarchy to 
me — Why I don't believe in woman suffrage — Characters 
and doings of women in power 305 



CHAPTER LIX 

THE PEOPLE THINK ME A WANTON 

Credit me with innumerable lovers, but don't disapprove — 
Glad the King feels scandalized — Picture of the "she- 
monster"— Everybody eager for love — I delight in Rich- 
ard's jealousy — Husband's indelicate announcement at 
table — I rush from the royal opera to see my lover — A 
threatening dream — Richard not mercenary like my noble 
lovers 309 



CHAPTER LX 

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT LOOMS UP 

My Grand Mistress shows her colors — Richard advises flight 
— I hesitate on account of my children — My Grand Mis- 
tress steals a letter from Richard to me — I opine that an 
adulteress's word is as good as a thief's — I humble my 
Grand Mistress, but it won't do me much good — Pleas- 
ant hours at his studio 317 



xlvi CONTENTS 

' CHAPTER LXI 

A MAD HOUSE FOR LOUISE — PROBABLY 

PAGE 

My confidential maid, Lucretia, is banished — The new King 
has got the incriminating letter, but Frederick Augustus 
says nothing — On the eve of judgment the King falls ill . 321 

CHAPTER LXn 

king's ILLNESS A BOON TO LOVERS 

Prayers mixed with joy — Espionage disorganized, and I can 
do as I please — Love-making in the school-room — Buy- 
ing a ring for Richard — "Wishing it on" — "Our mar- 
riage" — King's life despaired of — My tormentors obse- 
quious — Smile at my peccadilloes — Husband proud of 
me — My popularity a great asset — Frederick Augustus 
delighted when he hears that King can't last long — The 
joyous luncheon at Richard's studio — Making fun of 
majesties — I expect to be Queen presently .... 325 

CHAPTER LXni 

WHAT I WILL DO WHEN I AM QUEEN 

A foretaste: titled servants put me ien route for lover — 
The bargain I will propose to Frederick Augustus — Fred- 
erick Augustus will be a complaisant King — To revive 
Petit Trianon — I am addressed as Queen .... 331 

CHAPTER LXIV 

THE KING IS ALIVE AND PUNISHMENT NEAR 

My queenship postponed — King George publicly acclaimed — 
Cuts me dead in church — Frederick Augustus's disap- 
pointment — Terrible power of a king over his family, 
and no appeal — I am like the nude witch of old . . 335 



CONTENTS Xlvii 

CHAPTER LXV 

FISTICUFFS don't SAVE MY CROWN 

PAGE 

The attempted theft of my Diary — Grand Mistress discov- 
ered after breaking open my desk — Reading Diary Hke 
mad — Personal encounter between me and Grand Mis- 
tress — I am the stronger, and carry off the manuscript, 
but have to leave all my love letters, which go to the 
King — I discover that they had stolen the key to my 
Diary from my neck 339 



CHAPTER LXVI 

ABANDONED 

My titled servants withdraw from me — An old footman my 
sole support — Queen takes the children — Old Andrew 
plays spy for me 343 



CHAPTER LXVn 

FAMILY COUNCIL AT CASTLE 

Rendezvous at studio — State takes my children from me — 
Madhouse or flight — I brought fifty-two trunks to the 
palace — Depart with small satchel — If I attempt to see 
my children Til be seized as "mad woman" — Varying 
emotions of the last ten minutes — Threatening shadows 
thrown on a curtain decide me — Ready for flight — 
Diary the last thing to go into the satchel .... 345 




FROM LOUISE'S DIARY 



THE STORY OF LOUISE, 

CROWN PRINCESS 

OF SAXONY 



CHAPTER I 



MOTHERHOOD 



A Sterile Royal Family once fruitful — Diary true record of self — 
Long legs of Countess Solms — A child only because he can't 
help it — Wet nurse to Socialist brat — Royal permit for nurs- 
ing — Royal negligee talk — A Saxon failing. 

Castle Wachwitz, February 17, 1893. 

I did my duty towards the Saxons. I gave them a 
Prince. The Royal House ought to be grateful to me: — 
I am helping to perpetuate it. Who would, if I didn't? 
My sister-in-law, Princess Mathilde, is an old maid. The 
other, Maria Josepha, as sterile as Sarah was before she 
reached the nineties. This applies also to Isabelle, the wife 
of brother-in-law, John-George. And Prince Max, tired of 
ballet girls, is about to take the soutane. 

There is just one more royal Saxon princess, Elizabeth, 
and she succeeded in having children neither with her hus- 

I 



2 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

band de jure, the late Duke of Genoa, nor with her hus- 
band-lover, Marquis Rapallo. 

Louise, then, is the sole living hope of the royal Sax- 
ons that, only i6o years ago, boasted of a sovereign having 
three hundred and fifty-two children to his credit, among 
them not a few subsequently accounted geniuses. Augus- 
tus, the Physical Strong (1670 to 1733), was the happy 
father, the Mareshal de Saxe one of his numerous gifted 
offspring. 

Alas, since then the House of Wettin has declined not 
in numbers only. 

Poor baby is burdened with ten names in honor of so 
many ancestors. Why, in addition, they want to call him 
"Maria" I cannot for the life of me understand, for there 
never was a Saxon princess or queen that amounted to a 
row of pins. 

I wonder whether they will say the same of me after 
the crown of the Wettiners descended upon my brow. 
Those so inclined should consult these papers ere they be- 
gin throwing stones, for my Diary is intended to contain 
my innermost thoughts, my ambitions, my promises for the 
future. Myself, and let no one judge me by what I say 
other than what is recorded here. 

These pages are my Father Confessor. I confess to 
myself, — what a woman in my position says to members of 
her family or official and semi-official persons — ^her servants, 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 3 

SO to Speak — doesn't signify, to borrow a phrase from my 
good cousin, the Kaiser Wilhelm. 

Father-in-law George tells me to trust no one but him, 
my husband, and Frederick Augustus's sisters, cousins and 
aunts, and to rely on prayer only, yet, stubborn as nature 
made me, I prefer respectable white paper to my sweet 
relatives. 

Up to now my most ambitious literary attempts were 
intimate letters to my brother Leopold, the "Black Sheep." 
As I now start in writing letters to myself, it occurs to me 
that my worse self may be corresponding with my better 
self, or vice versa. If I was only a poet like Countess 
Solms, but, dear, no. All real bluestockings are ugly and 
emaciated. Solms is both, and her legs are as long and as 
thin as those of Diana, my English hunter. 

I think this Diary business will be quite amusing, — at 
any rate, it will be more so than the conversation of my 
ladies. Ah, those ladies of the court of Saxony! If they 
would only talk of anything else but orphans, sisters of 
charity and ballet girls. The latter always have one foot 
in Hades, while you can see the wings grow on the backs 
of the others. 

When the von Schoenberg struts in, peacock fashion, 
and announces "his royal Highness did himself the honor 
to soil his bib," I sometimes stare at her, not comprehending 
at the moment, and the fact that she is talking of my baby 



4 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

only gradually comes to mind. Isn't it ridiculous that a 
little squalling bit of humanity, whom the accident of birth 
planted in a palace, is royalty first and all the time, and a 
child only because he can't help it? 

As for me, I am a woman and mother first, and my 
child is an animated lump of flesh and blood — my flesh and 
blood — first and all the time. Of course, when baby came 
I wanted to nurse it. You should have seen Frederick 
Augustus's face. If I had proposed to become a wet-nurse 
to some "socialist brat" he couldn't have been more aston- 
ished. Yet my great ancestress, the Empress Maria The- 
resa, nursed her babies "before a parquet of proletarians," 
at the theatre and at reviews, and thought nothing of giv- 
ing the breast to a poor foundling left in the park of Schoen- 
brunn. 

Frederick Augustus recovered his speech after a v/hile 
— though he never says anything that would seem to re- 
quire reflection, he always acts the deep thinker. "Louise," 
he mumbled reproachfully, — "what will his Majesty 
say?" 

"I thought you were the father of the child," I re- 
marked innocently. 

"No levity where the King is concerned," he corrected 
poor me. "You know very well that for an act of this 
kind a royal permit must be previously obtained." 

Followed a long pause to give his mental apparatus time 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 5 

to think some more. Then: "And, besides, it will hurt 
your figure/' 

"Augusta Victoria" (the German Empress) "nursed 
half a dozen children, and her decollete is still much ad- 
mired,'' I insisted. 

Frederick Augustus paid no attention to this argument. 
"Anyhow, I don't want the doctors to examine your breast 
daily," he said with an air of mixed sentimentaHty and 
brusqueness. 

These were not his own words, though. My husband, 
not content with calling a spade a spade, invariably uses 
the nastiest terms in the dictionary of debauchery. When 
he tells me of his love adventures before marriage it's al- 
ways "I bagged that girl," or "I made something tender out 
of her," just as a hunter talks of game or a leg of venison. 

He doesn't want to be rude; he is so without knowing 
it. His indelicacy would be astounding in a man born on 
the steps of the throne, if the Princes of this royal house 
were not all inclined that way. 

Two weeks after my accouchement George and Isa- 
belle called. Though brother and sister-in-law, we are not 
at all on terms of intimacy. Frederick Augustus made 
some remarks of a personal nature that sent all the blood 
to my head; Isabelle seemed to enjoy my discomfort, but 
George had the decency to go to the window and comment 
on the dirty boots of a guard lieutenant just entering the 



O THE STORY OF LOUISE 

courtyard. Frederick Augustus thought he had made a 
hit with Isabelle and applauded his own effort with a loud 
guffaw, while pounding his thighs, which seems to give him 
particular satisfaction. 



CHAPTER II 



THE SWEET FAMILY 



Husband loving, but family nasty — Money considerations — Brutal 
caresses in public — Pests in the family — Awful serenity — 
Meddle with angels* or devils' affairs — Father-in-law's gritty 
kiss. 

Castle Wachwitz^ February 24, 1893. 

I have been married some fifteen months and I love 
my husband. He is kind, not too inquisitive and passionate. 
I have better claims to domestic happiness than most of my 
royal sisters on or near the thrones of Europe. Of course 
when I married into the Saxon royal family I expected to 
be treated with ill-concealed enmity. Wasn't I young and 
handsome? Reason enough for the old maids and child- 
less wives, my new sweet relatives, to detest me. 

Wasn't I poor? I brought little with me and my pres- 
ence entailed a perpetual expense. Now in royal families 
money is everything, or nearly so, and the newcomer that 
eats but doesn't increase the family fortune is regarded as 
an interloper. 

If I hadn't ''made good" that is if, in due time, I 
hadn't become a mother, my position among the purse-proud, 

7 



8 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

rapacious and narrow-minded Wettiners would have become 
wellnigh intolerable. But I proved myself a Holstein. I 
rose superior to Queen Carola, who never had a child, and 
to Maria, Mathilda, Isabelle and Elizabeth, who either 
couldn't or didn't. But, to my mind, acting the cow for 
the benefit of the race did not invite stable manners. 

I wasn't used to them. They hadn't figured in the 
dreams of my girlhood. I thought love less robust. I 
didn't expect to be squeezed before my ladies. Even the 
best beloved husband shouldn't take liberties with his wife's 
waist in the parlor. 

And Frederick Augustus's negligee talk is no less 
offensive than his manner of laying loving hands on my 
person. As a rule, he treats me like a third-row dancing 
girl that goes to petition the manager for a place nearer 
the footlights. There is no limit to his familiarities or to 
the license of his conversation. ''Fine wench" is a term of 
affection he likes to bestow on his future queen; indeed, 
one of the less gross. He has the weakness to like epithets 
that, I am told, gentlemen sometimes use in their clubs, but 
never towards a mistress they half-way respect. 

My father-in-law. Prince George, is a pest of another 
kind. While Frederick Augustus is jovial and rude, George 
is rude and serene of a serenity that would make a Grand 
Inquisitor look gay. 

One of my famous ancestresses, the Princess-Palatine, 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 9 

sister-in-law of Louis the Fourteenth, once boxed the 
Dauphin's ears for a trick he played on her, by putting his 
upright thumb in the centre of an armchair which her royal 
highness meant to sit on. 

Whenever I behold George's funereal visage, I long to 
repeat the Dauphin's undignified offense. I would like to 
see this royal parcel of melancholy jump and dance ; change 
that ever-frowning and mournful aspect of his. Indeed, I 
would like to treat him to one of the anecdotes that made 
the Duchess de Berri explode with laughter. 

Frederick Augustus lives in deadly fear of him, and 
never gets his hair cut without first considering whether 
his father will approve or not. George isn't happy unless 
he renders other people unhappy. I actually believe he 
would rather meddle with the angels' or devils' affairs than 
say his prayers, though he is a bigot of the most advanced 
stripe. 

Sometimes when the itch for meddling has hold of 
him, he cites all the married princes of the royal house 
and lectures them on the wickedness of having no children, 
winding up by commanding each one to explain, in detail, 
his failure to have offspring. 

Of course, these gentlertien put the blame on their 
wives, whereupon the ladies are forthwith summoned to 
be threatened and cajoled. 

Prince George had the great goodness to approve of 



10 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

my baby and to congratulate me, also to set me up as an 
example for Isabelle. When I return to Dresden I shall 
be niade Colonel of Horse. 

Twice has George kissed me, — upon my arrival in Sax- 
ony and five days after the birth of my child. It felt like 
a piece of gritty ice rubbing against my forehead. 



CHAPTER III 

WEEPING WILLOW — EMBLEM ROYAL 

A pious fraud — Theresa Mayer — Character of the Queen — Mo- 
pishness rampant. 

Castle Wachwitz^ March i, 1893. 

Prince Max came unexpectedly. He is studying for the 
priesthood and looks more sour than his father even. I was 
in bed, nursing a sick headache, but presuming upon his 
future clerical dignity, he walked in without ceremony and 
sat down on a chair near my bed. Then he raised his hands 
in prayer and announced that he had come to assist in my 
devotions. 

"Forget that I am your brother-in-law and cousin," he 
said; "tell me whafs in your heart, Louise, and I will pray 
to the good God for thee." 

"Don't trouble yourself," I replied, "I have a court 
chaplain charged with these affairs. Rather tell me about 
the latest comic opera." 

"Comic opera!" he stammered. "You don't intend to 
go to such worldly amusements now that you are a mother?" 

"Of course I do. The very day I return to Dresden 
I will take a look at your girl." 

II 



12 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"My — what?" gasped Max. 

"Your Theresa — Theresa Mayer. I understand she 
made a great hit in the Geisha, and everybody approves of 
your taste, Max." 

Max turned red, then green, and I thought to myself 
what a fool I was. He's a favorite with the King and 
Queen, and my father-in-law believes every word he says. 



Castle Wachwitz, March lo, 1893. 

Queen Carola is a good soul though she doesn't dare 
call her soul her own. I never heard her say ''peep" in 
the presence of his Majesty. She looks forlorn and fright- 
ened when King Albert is around. 

I like her better since I am a mother, for she loves 
baby. Yes, though she is a Queen, I saw her actually smile 
at the child once or twice. 

Poor woman, the point of her nose is always red, and, 
like Father-in-law George, she believes weeping willow the 
only fit emblem for royalty. The look of the whipped dog 
is always in her weak eyes. 

I am too young and — they do say — too frivolous to 
stand so much mopishness. These mustard-pots, sedate, 
grave, wan and long-faced, make me mad. I don't know 
what to say, — all I can do is try to hide my "un-princess- 
like" cheerfulness when they are around. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I3 

I wish I had an ounce or so of diplomacy in my com- 
position. It might enable me to sympathize with the fan- 
cied troubles of the Queen and Prince George, but I am 
incorrigible. 



CHAPTER IV 



MY UNPLEASANT YOUTH 



Father hard to get along with — Royal imaginations — Kings 
cursing other kings — Poverty and pretense — Piety that makes 
children suffer — Up at five to pray on cold stones — Chil- 
blains and prayer. 

Castle Wachwitz, March ii, 1893. 

It occurs to me that, if this is intended as a record of 
my life — somewhat after the fashion of the Margravine 
of Bayreuth's Memoirs — I ought to tell about my girlhood. 

Let me admit at once that my marriage to the Crown 
Prince of Saxony was, politically speaking, a stroke of 
good luck. My father, the Grand-duke of Tuscany, had 
been deprived of land and crown ten years before I was 
born, and, though he likes to pose as a sovereign, he is, as 
a matter of fact, a mere private gentleman of limited re- 
sources, whom the head of the family, the Austrian Em- 
peror, may coax or browbeat at his sweet pleasure. If 
papa had been able to save his thronelet, I have no doubt he 
would be a most agreeable man, open-handed and eager to 
enjoy life, but instead of making the best of a situation 
over which he has no control, he is forever fretting about 

15 



l6 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

his lost dignities and about "his dear people" that don't 
care a snap for his love and affection. This makes him a 
trying person to get along with, — mention a king or prince | 
in the full enjoyment of power, and father gets melancholy 
and calls Victor Emanuel, the second of his name, a brigand. 

He seldom or never visits his confreres in the capitals 
of Europe, but when I was a girl our gloomy palace at 
Salzburg saw much of the ghosts of decaying royalty. The 
Dukes of Modena and Parma, the King of Hanover, the 
Kurfurst of Hesse, the King of Naples and other monarchs 
and toy-monarchs that were handed their walking papers 
by sovereigns mightier than themselves, visited us off and 
on, filling the air with lamentations and cursing their fate. 

And, like papa, all these ex'es are ready to fly out of 
their very skins the moment they notice the smallest breach 
of etiquette concerning their august selves. If they had 
the power, the Imperial Highnesses would execute any man 
that called them "Royal Highness," while the Royal High- 
nesses would be pleased to send to the gallows persons ad- 
dressing them as "Highness" only. 

And papa has other troubles, and the greatest of them, 
lack of money. Poverty in private life must be hard enough, 
but a poor king, obliged to keep up the pretense of a court, 
is to be pitied indeed. 

Add to what I have said, father's share of domestic 
unhappiness. Mother is a Bourbon of Parma, serious- 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY VJ 

minded and hard like my father-in-law, and almost as much 
of a religious fanatic. 

Oh, how we children suffered by the piety of our 
mother. There were eight of us, myself the oldest of five 
girls, and seven years older than my sister Anna. Yet this 
baby, as soon as she could walk, was obliged to rise, like 
myself, at five o'clock summer and winter to go to the 
chapel and pray. The chapel was lighted only by a few 
wax candles and, of course, was unheated like the corridors 
of the palace. And like them it was paved with stones. 
Many a chilblain I carried away from kneeling on those 
granite flags. 

And the stupidity of the thing ! Instead of saying our 
prayers we murmured and protested, and as soon as we 
were old enough we slipped portions of novels in our prayer- 
books, which we read while mass was said. That trick 
was not unfraught with danger though, for mother's spies 
were always after us, and the bad light made reading dif- 
ficult. 

I am sure that if mother had found us out, she would 
have whipped us within an inch of our lives. 



CHAPTER V 



A FIERCE DISCIPLINARIAN 



Diamonds used to punish children — Face object of attacks — 
Grunting and snorting at the royal table — Blood flowing at 
dinner — My brother jumps out of a window. 

Castle Wachwitz^ April i, 1893. 

Nothing of consequence happened since my last entry, 
and I continue the story of my girlhood. 

Her Imperial Highness, my pious mother, had a terri- 
ble way of punishing her children. The face of the culprit 
was invariably the object of her attacks. She hit us with 
the flat of her bony hand, rendered more terrible by in- 
numerable rings. The sharp diamonds cut into the flesh 
and usually made the blood flow freely. 

The court chaplain at Salzburg was a peasant's boy 
without manners or breeding of any kind. While the 
least violation of etiquette or politeness on the chil- 
dren's part was punished by a box on the ear, or by 
withholding the next meal, mother overlooked the swinish- 
ness of the chaplain simply because he wore a black 
coat. 

One of the chaplain's most offensive habits was to 

19 



20 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

grunt and snort when eating. On one occasion my brother 
Leopold gave a somewhat exaggerated imitation of these 
disgusting practices at table, whereupon mother, blind with 
fury, for she thought a priest could do no wrong, struck 
Leopold in the face, causing the blood to gush from his 
lacerated cheek. 

Father immediately rose from table and savagely turn- 
ing upon mother said, "Understand, Madame, that as a 
sovereign and head of the family I will have no one pun- 
ished in my presence. If I think punishment necessary, I 
will inflict it myself in a dignified way." 

Mother immediately began to cry. She always had a 
flood of tears ready when father offered the slightest repri- 
mand. Afterwards she upbraided father and us, the chil- 
dren. If it were not for her incessant prayers, she said, 
and for the Christian life she was leading, God would have 
destroyed the Tuscans long ago, and she wasn't sure that 
either of us would attain Paradise except for her intercesr- 
sion with the Almighty. 

This and similar scenes and incidents disgusted me with 
religion early in life. Myself and all my brothers and sis- 
ters hated the very sight of the court chaplain who licked 
our mother's boots, while heaping punishments and indig- 
nities upon us. 

At one time my brother Leopold didn't know his 
catechism. "I will teach your Imperial Highness to 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 21 

skip your lessons/' said the court chaplain. "Kneel be- 
fore me and read the passage over ten times as a punish- 
ment." 

Leopold promptly answered: "I won't." 

"Yes, you will, Imperial Highness, for such are my 
orders," cried the court chaplain. 

Leopold said doggedly, "I kneel before the altar and 
before the Emperor, if he demands it, not before such as 
you." 

"Suppose I call on your Imperial Highness's mother and 
ask her to forbid you to mount a horse for a month or so?" 
queried our tormentor. 

Horseback riding was Leopold's chief pleasure, and the 
chaplain had no sooner launched his threat, when Leopold 
opened the window and apparently jumped out. As the 
schoolroom was situated in the third story, the teacher 
thought his pupil dead on the pavement below, but Leopold 
was merely hanging on to the stone coping and shutters. 
That gave him the whip hand over the teacher. "I will 
let go if you don't promise not to inform mother," de- 
manded the twelve-year-old boy. 

"I promise, only come in," moaned the teacher. 

"Promise furthermore there shall be no punishment 
whatever for what I did and said." 

"None whatever, your Imperial Highness." 

"Swear it on the cross." 



22 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

The chaplain did as ordered and Leopold crawled back 
to safety. 

Leopold is a good deal like me, and has been in hot 
water more or less all his life. 

When I was a girl of fifteen, he defended my honor 
at the risk of the fearful punishments my mother had in 
store for those children that wouldn't buckle down to the 
chaplain, but that is so sad a chapter of my girlhood days 
I cannot bring myself to put it down today. 



CHAPTER VI 

LEOPOLD DEFENDS MY HONOR AT HIS PERIL 

Punished for objecting to familiarities — Awful names I was 
called — Locked in the room with wicjced teacher — Defend 
myself with burning lamp' — My brother nearly kills my 
would-be assailant. 

Castle Wachwitz, April 2, 1893. 

I want to finish with evil recollections. Maybe I will 
be able to forget them, when I have done with this narra- 
tive. My mother, as pointed out, had more confidence in 
our rascally court chaplain than in her own children, and 
was far more concerned about the chaplain's dignity than 
ours. She never hesitated to doubt her children's veracity, 
but regarded all the chaplain said as gospel truth. 

About two weeks before Easter, 1885, ^^^ time when I 
was just budding into young womanhood, the chaplain 
began to pay me a great deal of attention. The lessons he 
gave me to learn were insignificant compared with those of 
my brothers and sisters, and it mattered not whether I came 
to school prepared or otherwise. The strict disciplinarian 
had all of a sudden turned lenient. He began to pat my 
hair, to give me friendly taps on the shoulder, and never 
took his eyes off me. I was too young and innocent to see 

23 



24 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

the true significance of his strange behavior, but I woke 
up suddenly and ran crying to my mother, telling her what 
had happened. 

"I won't take another lesson from that man, unless my 
lady-in-waiting is present,'' I sobbed. 

"You are a malicious, lying, low-minded creature," 
hissed my mother, at the same time striking me in the face 
with her big diamonds. "It's mortal sin to throw suspicion 
on so holy a man, and I will not have him watched." 

I ran out of mother's room crying, intending to go to 
papa, but met the boys in the corridor, who told me that 
father had just departed for the chase. Then I took Leo- 
pold aside and told him everything. He was half-mad with 
rage and was hardly able to articulate when he rushed to 
mother's room demanding protection for me. 

"I will protect the holy man instead," answered my 
fanatic mother. "Louise shall be locked in the room 
with the chaplain while she has her lesson." And my 
mother actually carried out that wicked design inspired by 
fanaticism. 

Locked in a room with me, the chaplain was sweet- 
ness itself, but for a while at least remained at a distance. 
When he attempted to approach me, I seized the burning 
kerosene lamp, as Leopold had advised. 

"One step more," I cried excitedly, "and I will throw 
the lamp in your face." 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 2$ 

The coward stood still in his tracks, and began whisper- 
ing to me in a hoarse voice things I hardly understood, but 
that nevertheless wounded me to the quick. I kept my 
hand at the burning lamp during the whole hour and was 
ready to faint when the fiend at last left me. 

As the door opened, I saw Leopold standing outside, 
an enormous dog whip in hand. Without a word he ap- 
plied the whip to the chaplain's broad face, lashing him 
right and left. The scoundrel offered no resistance, but 
fled like the dog he was, Leopold after him through the long 
corridors, upstairs and downstairs, through the picture gal- 
lery and the state apartments, lashing him as he ran, the 
two of them filling the palace with cries of rage and pain. 
Only the fact that Leopold stumbled over a footstool, 
enabled the chaplain to reach his room alive, where he 
barricaded himself. 



CHAPTER VII 

PRINCES AND PRINCESSES DANCE TO THE TUNE OF THE WHIP 

The result shows in the character of rulers — Why English kings 
and princes are superior to the Continental kind — Leopold's 
awful revenge — Mother acts the tigress — Her mailed fist — 
*T forbid Your Imperial Highness to see that dog." 

Castle Wachwitz^ April 21, 1893. 

If my Diary ever fell into plebeian hands, I suppose 
such stories as the above would be branded as rank exag- 
gerations. 

A Queen endangering life and health of her children 
by a form of punishment otherwise known only in the prize 
ring. 

An Imperial Highness using her diamonds to graft 
scars on the cheeks of a little girl ! 

Royal children beaten worse than dogs, deprived of 
sleep, subjected to cold and damp and, withal, given over, 
bound hand and foot, so to speak, to the tender mercies of 
low-minded, unworthy, and even dangerous persons with- 
out manners or education. 

And, to cap the climax, a Royal maid in the first blush 

27 



28 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

of budding womanhood grossly repulsed and physically at- 
tacked when she appeals to her mother for protection; that 
child locked in a room with her would-be ravisher and 
obliged to defend her honor by a threat of murder. 

Only the uninitiated — men and women living outside 
the pale of royal courts — will deem such things impossible. 
Let me tell these happy ignoramuses that all through the 
nineteenth century the princes and princesses of Europe 
were brought up to the tune of the whip and of physical 
and mental humiliation. It was the fashion. 

The only eminent monarch of the immediate past — 
Frederick the Great — was all but flayed alive by his father 
when a boy and young man, — emulate the second King of 
Prussia's brutalities and your offspring will be destined for 
greatness, argued princes. 

The first Emperor William of Germany had a gentle 
mother, my famous namesake; he was always a gentle- 
man. The Russian Czars, Paul, Nicholas I, and Alexander 
III, were brought up with the knout, their preceptors used 
the boys at their sweet pleasure. The first turned out a 
madman; the second a brute; the third his people's execu- 
tioner. 

Czar Paul would run a mile to cane a soldier who 
had a speck of dust on his boots. My granduncle. Em- 
peror Francis Joseph of Austria, sometimes travels tens of 
miles to box the ears of a member of his family. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 2g 

Francis Joseph had a cruel bringing up. 

At the Royal Library in Berlin I saw the manuscript 
of Les Memoires de ma vie: la princesse de Prusse, Fred- 
erice Sophie Wilhelmine, qui epousa le Margrave de Bay- 
reuth, — the original, unedited save by the corrections of 
the authoress. A good many passages of this "most terrible 
indictment of royalty" reminded me of home. There is 
even a parallel, or a near-parallel, of my own case just 
recorded. The Princess Wilhelmina's all-powerful gov- 
erness was Madame Leti, who pummelled the child "as if 
she had been her mother." This Leti was undoubtedly a 
Sadist; to inflict torture, to practice refined cruelties was 
a joy to her. Not content with whipping the little girl, she 
added, shortly before her dismissal, some poisonous mat- 
ter to Wilhelmina's wash water "that gnawed the skin and 
made my face all coppery and inflamed my eyes." This 
species of wickedness, at last, resulted in the discharge of 
Leti, "but she decided to leave me a few souvenirs in the 
shape of fisticuffs and kicks. She had told my mother that 
I was suffering from nose bleed and punched my nose when- 
ever she was unobserved. During the last week of her 
stay at the palace I sometimes bled like an ox, and my 
arms and legs were blue, green and yellow from her kicks 
and cuffs. I am sure if she could have broken my legs 
with impunity, she would not have hesitated a moment to 
do so." 



30 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

History and the court gossip of the day afford plenty 
of precedents for what happened to me and my brothers 
and sisters in Salzburg. Indeed, Prince Albert, Consort of 
the late Queen Victoria, was the only royal father of the 
first half of the century that used the rod in moderation. 
To my mind that is one of the reasons why English 
kings and princes are so far superior to the Continental 
kind. 

But to return to Salzburg. 

Leopold had it all his own way for a quarter of an 
hour, as none of the servants would interfere in favor of 
the hated chaplain and mother was engaged in her oratory 
in a far away part of the castle. So my brother kicked in 
the door and went for the cowering brute again, raining 
stripes on every part of his bloated body, alternately using 
the whip and the whip-end. Undoubtedly Leopold would 
have killed him then and there if his boy's strength had 
not given out. He left him more dead than alive, bleeding 
and moaning. 

I will never forget the spectacle when Leopold came 
down the stairs after leaving the chaplain's room. I and 
my brothers and sisters were huddled together behind our 
ladies in the blue antechamber. A dozen or more lackeys 
stood in the corridor, whispering. 

Leopold's face was deathly pale as he descended the 
stairs, and blood was dripping from his whip, reddening the 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 3I 

white linen runners protecting the carpet. He wore his 
army uniform, that should have saved him from violence 
at any rate. At that moment I prayed my since rest that 
father would come home. I would have thrown myself on 
my knees and told everything, servants or no servants. 
But mother came instead. 

She was fully informed and she sprang upon poor Leo- 
pold like a tigress, knocking him from one end of the cor- 
ridor to the other with her diamond-mailed fist. It was 
terrible, and all of us children cried aloud with terror. But 
the more we cried and the more we begged for mercy, the 
harder were the blows mother rained upon poor Leopold's 
face and head. His blood spattered over the white enam- 
eled banisters and doors until finally he was dragged out 
of my mother's clutches by an old footman who placed 
his broad back between the Imperial Highness and her 
victim. 

Now, it was the rule in our house that the whipped 
child had to ask our mother's forgiveness for putting her 
to the trouble of wielding the terrible back of her 
hand. 

Six weeks Leopold stayed at Salzburg after the scene 
described, and daily my mother urged him to beg her for- 
giveness. The boy stood stockstill on these occasions, never 
twitching a muscle of his face and never saying a word in 
reply. During all these six weeks he waited on mother 



32 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

morning, noon and night, according to ceremony, but never 
a word escaped him, never did he look in her direction un- 
less actually forced to do so. He played the deaf and 
dumb to perfection. 

Father must have thought that Leopold got enough 
punishment, for he never mentioned the matter to him and 
forbade the servants to even allude to the court chaplain. 
Mother, on her part, placed the chaplain in charge of two 
skilled surgeons and sent every little while to inquire how 
he was doing. 

On the third day she said to my father at table, that she 
was going to pay a visit to the court chaplain. 

"I forbid your Imperial Highness to see that dog," 
said my father in an icy voice that brooked no reply. "I 
will have his carcass thrown out of here as soon as his 
condition permits." 

That was the only time I heard father speak like a 
sovereign and man. 

That Leopold nearly killed the scoundrel, as he prom- 
ised to do, is evident from the fact that the court chaplain 
lay in the castle three weeks before he could be trans- 
ported to a monastery. Some monks — for none of the 
servants would lend a helping hand — carried him away by 
night and none of the children ever saw or heard of our 
tormentor again. 

The only sorry reminder of the episode is the estrange- 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 33 

ment of Leopold and our mother. Though mother tried her 
hardest to win back the boy's confidence and affection, he 
remained an iceberg towards her, ceremonious but cold, 
polite but wholly indifferent. 



CHAPTER VIII 

PLANNING TO GET A HUSBAND FOR ME 

Dissecting possible wooers at Vienna — Royalty after money, not 
character — "He is a Cohen, not a Coburg" — Prince who 
looked like a Jew counter-jumper in his Sunday best — 
Balkan princes tabooed by Francis Joseph — A good time 
for the girls — Army men commanded to attend us. 

Castle Wachwitz^ April 25, 1893. 

A change of scene. I was eighteen and my parents 
were anxious to get a husband for me. Royalty marries 
off its princes at an early age to keep them out of mischief; 
its princesses as soon as a profitable suitor turns up or can 
be secured by politics, diplomacy, the exercise of parental 
wits or the powerful influence of the head of the House. 

Sister Anna, now Princess John of Hohenlohe, myself 
and mother were invited to Vienna. It was my introduc- 
tion to royal pomp and circumstance. The Hofhurg, our 
town lodging, seemed to me the first and also the last cry 
in sumptuousness — all that was beautiful and expensive in 
days gone by is there, and all that is new and desirable is 
there, too; Schoenbrunn, the Imperial summer residence, is 
a dream of loveliness wedded to grandeur. Between the 

35 



36 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Emperor and my mother and between her and the numer- 
ous archduchesses and archdukes every second word ut- 
tered referred to me as the possible wife of someone or 
another. And that someone was well dissected as to for- 
tune, success in life and political exigencies. 

Whether he was good-looking or a monkey in face 
and figure mattered not. Health, good character, upright- 
ness didn't count. 

Has he expectations for gaining a throne? Will he 
be wise enough to retain that throne? What kind of an 
establishment will he be able to set up? How long may his 
parents live, hanging on to the family fortune? — These 
were the only considerations deemed worthy of discussion. 

Three or four of the archduchesses seemed to be acting 
as marriage brokers for Ferdinand, just elected hereditary 
prince of Bulgaria, whose mother. Princess Clementine, a 
daughter of the dethroned King Louis Philippe of France, 
was reputed to be rolling in gold. 

Leopold irreverently called Ferdinand's partisans ''Bil- 
lons'' after famous ''La Fillon" who supplied the harem 
of our jolly ancestor, the Regent of France, Duke of 
Orleans, and he insisted that Ferdinand was a Cohen, not 
a Coburg. As a matter of fact, Ferdinand's great fortune 
is derived from a Kohary, which is Hungarian for Cohen. 
The original Kohary was a cattle-dealer, who supplied the 
armies of the Allies during the Napoleonic wars. In this 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 37 

way he accumulated so much wealth that an impoverished 
Coburg prince fell in love with his daughter and made her 
his wife, after she exchanged the name of Rebecca for 
Antonie and the Mosaic faith for that of Rome. 

Young and proud and flippant as I was, Leopold's talk 
filled me with hearty contempt for the "Coburger" long 
before we were introduced. And as to his ambassador, 
who was forever dancing attendance upon me, I hated him. 
Yet the Imperial ''Fillons" kept up their clatter, and one 
fine morning Prince Ferdinand was announced. 

He wasn't half bad looking, but struck me as too much 
of a mother's-boy. Princess Clementine seemed to decide 
everything for him. Anyhow, I wouldn't have him and 
he marched off again. 

I next reviewed, as another Balkan matrimonial pos- 
sibihty. Prince Danilo of Montenegro, a small, thin per- 
son, looking like a Jew counter-jumper in holiday dress 
— Vienna "store-clothes." 

Danilo spoke the worst table d'hote French I ever heard 
in my life, and I told mother I would rather marry a rich 
banker than this crowned idiot. For once she agreed with 
me and said his father was only a "mutton-thief," anyhow. 

Finally there was talk of King Alexander of Servia, 
six years younger than I. Queen Natalie, who a few days 
ago celebrated one of her several reunions with ex-King 
Milan, spoke feelingly of her "Sasha" to mother, lauding 



38 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

him as the best of sons and the most promising of sov- 
ereigns, but the oft-divorced Majesty was less communi- 
cative when mother asked how many millions she would 
pass over to Alexander on his marriage day. That set- 
tled "Sasha's" ambitions as far as my hand was concerned. 
Marry a Balkan King and the nee Keshko holding the purse- 
strings ! Not for my father's daughter ! I didn't want to 
marry into a Russian Colonel's family, anyhow. I believe 
Queen Natalie's father was a colonel, or was he only a lieu- 
tenant-colonel ? 

These marriage negotiations aside, Anna and myself 
had a mighty good time in Vienna (I forgot to say that 
Emperor Francis Joseph agreed with me that Danilo and 
Alexander were quite impossible and that henceforth Bal- 
kan marriages should be taboo). 

"I have ordered a dozen young officers to report for 
tonight's dancing," said my Imperial uncle one evening. 
"Select from among them your tennis partners, girls." 
Baron Cambroy of the Guards was my choice, and a mighty 
handsome fellow he is. He seemed pleased whem I com- 
manded him to tennis duty every afternoon during our 
stay. He is tall and spare in appearance and I might have 
fallen in love with him sooner, but for his dark skin. I 
am an Italian and, by way of contrast, prefer blondes to 
any other sort of man. 

Anna, myself and our ladies bicycled to the tennis 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 39 

court every afternoon, and on our way back to the castle 
were escorted by the Baron and the other officers. 

Trust a girl with a dress reaching an inch below her 
knees to find out scandals! On the second day after our 
meeting with the Baron, Anna told me that he was the 
lover of Draga Maschin, lady-in-waiting to Queen Natalie 
of Servia * 

Draga was in attendance upon Queen Natalie when 
she called on us, a beautiful girl, somewhat too full-bosomed 
for an unmarried one, like my great-aunt, Catharine, who 
became the wife of that upstart, Jerome Napoleon. At 
home we have her picture, and mother, who was rather 
skinny as a girl, never failed to point out that it was painted 
before Queen Catharine's marriage, despite her volup- 
tuous bust. 

If my Baron was really Draga's beloved, that would 
more than half explain mother's puzzle. 

* The same who afterwards became the Queen of King Alex- 
ander of Servia and eventually the cause of his death and of the 
extinction of the Obrenovitsch dynasty. Alexander and Draga 
were both slaughtered in their beds May 29, 1903, ten years after 
the above was written. 



CHAPTER IX 



LOVE-MAKING 



The fascinating Baron — The man's audacity — Putting the ques- 
tion boldly — Real love-making — Risque stories for royalty. 

Castle Wachwitz^ May i, 1893. 

I am in love but, like a prudent virgin, I admitted the 
fact to myself only shortly before we departed for Salz- 
burg. After I put several hundred miles between me and 
my fascinating Baron, all's well again. 

My first love, and it was the man's audacity that won 
the day! 

Imagine an Imperial Highness, decidedly attractive, 
eighteen, and no tigress by any means, wheeling at the 
side of a mere lieutenant who has nothing but his pay to 
bless himself with and nothing but good looks to recom- 
mend him. And, as before stated, he wasn't even my 
style. 

Anna pedalled ahead some twenty-five paces; our la- 
dies wheezed and snorted that many behind. This devil of 
a lieutenant took a chance. 

"Imperial Highness," he commenced, "I wager you 
don't know what love is." 

41 



42 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

It was the one theme I was aching for, scenting, as I 
did, the odor of forbidden things. Never before had I the 
opportunity. 

"R-e-a-1 love," he insisted. 

"Do you blame me?" I asked, vixen-like. "Would be 
a poor specimen of Guard officer who didn't know more 
about real love than a mere girl of eighteen and a princess 
at that." 

"Will your Imperial Highness allow me to explain?" 
This, oh so insinuatingly, from the gay seducer. 

"Why not?" I asked, with the air of a roue and hating 
myself for blushing like a poppy — I felt it. 

"Charmed to enlighten you — with your Imperial High- 
nesses permission," whispered the Baron, his knee crowd- 
ing mine as he drew nearer on his wheel. 

"Explain away." 

"Not until I have your Imperial Highness's express 
command and your promise not to get angry if I should 
offend." 

Anna, always an enfant terrible and invariably in the 
way, was waiting for us in the shadow of a tree and now 
rode by the Baron's side. She had evidently heard part 
of our conversation. 

"Permission and pardon granted beforehand," she 
cried. "Go ahead." 

The Baron looked at me, and not to be outdone by the 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 43 

parcel of impudence in short petticoats, I said carelessly: 
"Oh, tell. I command." 

The Baron began to stroke his moustache and then 
related a story of Napoleon and our ancestress Marie 
Louise, the Austrian Archduchess, not found in school 
books. 

On the day before her entry into Paris, he said, and 
when they were destined to meet for the first time, Napo- 
leon waylaid his bride-to-be at Courcelles and without 
ceremony entered her carriage. They rushed past villages, 
through towns en fete and at last, at nine o'clock in the 
evening, reached the palace of Compiegne. There the 
Emperor cut short the addresses of welcome, presentations 
and compliments, and taking Marie Louise by the hand 
conducted her to his private apartments. Next morning 
they had breakfast in bed. The marriage ceremony took 
place a few days later. 

"That's love," said the Baron, shooting significant 
glances at me. 

"Henry Quatre did the same to Marie de Medici — an 
Italian like you, Imperial Highness." 

Anna didn't know what to make of it, and as for me, 
my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth. 

The impudent fellow seems to have misinterpreted our 
silence, for, brazen like the Due de Richelieu, who boasted 
of sleeping in the beds of queens, he continued : 




44 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"Catharine the Great, too, knew what love was. One 
fine afternoon when she wasn't a day older than you, Im- 
perial Highness, she looked out of the window of her room 
at Castle Peterhof. In the garden below a sentinel, very 
handsome, very Herculean, very brave, was pacing up and 
down. Catharine, then Imperial Grand-duchess and only 
just married, made a sign to the soldier. The giant, aban- 
doning his rifle, jumped below the window and Catharine 
jumped onto his shoulders from the second story. 

"That's real love," concluded the Baron. 

Anna got frightened and fled down the avenue, but I 
had the weakness to remain at the Baron's side until we 
reached the palace. 

Alas, Frederick Augustus wasn't as good a talker as 
the Baron. 



FREDERICK AUGUSTUS. REIGNING KING OF SAXONY 
Louise's Ex-Husband 



44 



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CHAPTER X 

MY POPULARITY RENDERS GEORGE DYSPEPTIC. 

The Cudgel-Majesty — Prince George's intrigues — No four-horse 
coach for Princess — Popular demonstration in my favor — 
"All-highest" displeasure. 

Dresden, September i, 1893. 

I haven't lived up to my promise to keep a daily rec- 
ord, or even a weekly one. Those tales of my girlhood 
days disgusted me with diary keeping as far as my early 
experiences at home went and I reflected that many of 
the subsequent happenings in my life might be safer in the 
shrine of memory, than spread over the pages of a blank- 
book, even though no one sees it and I carry its golden 
key on a chain around my neck. 

We are back in the capital now and things are moving. 
Great doings had been planned for our reception, for the 
re-entry of the little prince, my baby, and his mother who 
is expected to give another child to Saxony at the end of 
the year. Two babies in one year! I am going to beat 
the German Empress, and if Wilhelm doesn't send me a 
medal I will cut him dead the next time I see him ! 

45 



46 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Well, about that reception. Flags, triumphal arches, 
speeches by the burgo-master, white-robed virgins at the 
station and all that sort of thing! 

But Father-in-law George said "no." Anything that 
gives joy to others goes against his royal grain, gives him 
politico-economic dyspepsia. He doesn't want me to be 
popular, — neither me, nor Frederick Augustus, nor the 
baby. 

George will be the next king, and if the Dresdeners 
or the Saxons want to ''Hoch the King'' they must ''Hoch" 
George. They MUST. "It's their damned duty," says 
George the Pious, who never blasphemes on his own ac- 
count, but allows himself some license concerning his sub- 
jects. His attitude recalls the story told of Frederick Wil- 
liam the First of Prussia, whose appearance on the streets 
of Berlin used to cause passers-by to run to save their 
back. Upon one occasion His Majesty caught one of 
these fugitives, and whacking him over the head with his 
Spanish reed, cried angrily: "What do you want to run 
away from me for?" 

"Because Fm afraid of your Royal Majesty," stuttered 
the poor devil. 

"Afraid?" thundered Frederick William, giving the 
fellow another whack with his cane. "Afraid?" — the beat- 
ing continuing — "when I, your King, commanded you to 
love me. Love me, you miserable coward, love God's 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 47 

Anointed." And the loving Majesty broke his cane on 
the unloving subject's back. 

Two days before our arrival Prince George sent his 
adjutant, Baron de Metsch-Reichenbeck, to the Mayor of 
Dresden, stopping all reception arrangements contem- 
plated. 

To have children was a mfere picnic to Her Imperial 
Highness, lied George's messenger, — if the physicians 
hadn't used chloroform I would have perished with the 
torture. Ovations intended as a sort of reward or 
recognition of my services to the country, then, 
would be entirely out of place, and must not be 
thought of. 

The municipality thereupon officially abandoned prepa- 
rations. I was a little vexed when I first heard about 
George's meanness, yet again felt tickled that he went out 
of his way to intrigue against me, the despised little prin- 
cess of a House that ceased to reign. And I had an idea 
that the Dresdeners would give us a good welcome any- 
how. 

I had contemplated ordering my special train to leave 
in the early morning or at noon, but the Ministry of Rail- 
ways informed me that it was impossible to accommodate 
me at the hours mentioned. 

"We will take the ordinary express, then, and will be 
in Dresden at four in the afternoon," I suggested. 



48 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"According to the new schedule, the express doesn't 
stop in Dresden," protested Frederick Augustus. 

"We will command it to stop,'' I cried. 

Frederick Augustus looked at me as if I had asked 
him to borrow twenty marks from the Kaiser. "For God's 
sake !" he cried, "don't you know what happened to John 
the other day?" 

I confessed my ignorance. 

"Well," said Frederick Augustus, "John ordered the 
Continental express to pick him up at his garrison, and he 
had no sooner arrived in Dresden than he was commanded 
by the King to appear before him. His Majesty walked 
all over John, accusing him of 'interfering with interna- 
tional traffic' and forbidding him to issue another order 
of that character." 

"Pshaw !" I said, "John is merely a childless princeling. 
I am the mother of Saxony's future king. The regenera- 
tion, the perpetuation of your race depends on me." 

It was a mere waste of breath, for at that moment 
came a telegram, announcing that our special was billed 
to leave at 3:30, getting us to Dresden at half-past five — 
King's orders. 

"Did you command the Daumont coach-and-four to 
meet ^ us at the station?" I asked. 

"My dear child, you are dreaming," replied Frederick 
Augustus. "The State carriages are the property of the 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 49 

Crown and we don't own a four-horse team in Dresden. 
They will send the ordinary royal carriage, I suppose/' 

I was mad enough to wish my husband's family to 
Hades, the whole lot of them, but the people of Dresden 
took revenge in hand and dealt most liberally. Of course, 
having fixed our arrival at a late and unusual hour, George 
expected there would be no one to welcome us, but the 
great concourse of people that actually assembled at the 
station and in the adjacent streets, lining them up to the 
palace gates, was tremendous instead. 

One more disappointment. George had sent an in- 
conspicuous, narrow coupe to the station, — the Dresdeners 
shouldn't see more than the point of my nose. I saw 
through his scheme the moment I clapped eyes on that 
mouse-trap of a vehicle standing at the curb. 

And then I remembered the brilliant stagecraft of 
August the Physical Strong — ^he of the three hundred and 
fifty-two — and how he always managed to focus every- 
body's eyes on himself. And I stood stock-still on the 
broad, red-carpeted terrace when I walked out of the wait- 
ing room and held up my baby in the face of the multitude. 
You could hear the "Hochs" and Hurrahs all over town, 
they said. Hats flew in the air, handkerchiefs waved, flags 
were thrust out of the windows of the houses. 

"What are you doing, Imperial Highness?" whispered 
Frdulein von Schoenberg, my lady-in-waiting. 



50 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"Never mind, I will carry the baby to the carriage/' I 
answered curtly. 

"But the King and Prince George will be angry, — 
everything will be reported to them." 

"I sincerely hope it will," I said. 

And before I entered that petty sounder e of a royal 
coach, I danced the baby above my head time and again, 
giving everybody a chance to see him. And as I stood 
there in the midst of this tumult of applause, this waving 
sea of good- will, this thunder of jubilation, I felt proud 
and happy as I never did before. And when the thought 
struck me how mad George would feel about it all, I had 
to laugh outright. 

I was still grinning to myself when I heard Frederick 
Augustus's troubled voice: "Get in, what are you stand- 
ing around here for?" — These manifestations of popularity 
spelt "all-highest" displeasure to him, poor noodle. He 
anticipated the scene at the palace, George fuming and 
charging "play to the gallery," the Queen in tears, the 
King threatening to banish us from Dresden. 

"Be it so," I said to myself, "we might as well be 
hanged for a sheep as a lamb." And I refused to enter 
the carriage until I had waved and smiled profound thanks 
to everybody in the square and in the windows and on 
the balconies of the surrounding houses. 

I saw the Master of Horse address the coachman and 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 5 1 

immediately divined his purpose. So I pulled at the rope 
and commanded the coachman to drive slowly. I said it 
in my most imperious manner, and the Master of Horse 
dared not give the counter order with which Prince George 
had charged him. Poor man, his failure to subordinate my 
will to his, or George's, cost him his job. 

And so we made our royal entry into Dresden amid 
popular rejoicings. I glued my face to the carriage win- 
dow and smiled and smiled and showed the baby to every- 
one who asked for the boon. 

Baby took it all in a most dignified fashion. He 
neither squalled nor kicked, but seemed to enjoy the hom- 
age paid him. 

When we reached the palace there was another big 
crowd of well-wishers, who shouted themselves hoarse for 
Louise and the baby, and, malicious thing that I am, I 
noticed with pleasure that it all happened under George's 
windows. 

"This will give father-in-law jaundice," said baby's 
nurse in Italian. She is a girl from Tuscany and very 
devoted to me. 

"If he dies, I will be Queen the sooner," thought I, — 
but happily I didn't think aloud. 



CHAPTER XI 



SCOLDED FOR BEING POPULAR 



Entourage spied upon by George's minions — My husband proves 
a weakling — I disavow the personal compliment — No more 
intelligent than a king should be. 

Dresden, September 5, 1893. 

I wrote the foregoing at one sitting, without interrup- 
tion. It's not so easy a matter to put down the conse- 
quences of our triumph, or rather mine and baby's. 

When I entered my apartments, I met a whole host of 
long faces. The Commander of the Palace, in great gala, 
offered a most stiff and icy welcome. The adjutants, the 
chamberlains, the mattre d'Hotel, all looked ill at ease. 
They evidently felt the coming storm in their bones and 
didn't care to have it said of them, by George's spies, that 
they lent countenance, even in a most remote way, to my 
carryings-on. Even the Schoenberg — my own woman — shot 
reproachful glances at me when the Commander of the 
Palace happened to look her way. 

53 



54 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Frederick Augustus looked and acted as if he was 
to be deprived of all his military honors. 

"Your courage must have fallen into your cuirassier 
boots, look for it there," I said to him in an undertone when 
he seemed ready to go to pieces at the entrance of the 
King's grand marshal, Count Vitzthum. 

With that I advanced towards His Excellency and, 
holding out my hand to be kissed, took care to say to 
him with my most winning smile, 

"I trust His Majesty will be pleased with me, for of 
course our grand reception was but a reflex of the love 
the people have for their King. I never for a moment took 
it as a personal compliment." 

My smart little speech disconcerted the official com- 
pletely. Maybe he had orders to say something disagree- 
able, but my remark disarmed him, forestalled any quarrel 
that might have been in the King's or Prince George's 
mind. 

Frederick Augustus, who is no more intelligent than 
a future king should be, was so amazed, he had to think 
hard and long before he could even say "Good evening" to 
the Count. As for the latter, he hawed and coughed and 
stammered and cleared his throat until finally he succeeded 
in delivering himself of the following sublime effort: 

"I will have the honor to report to His Majesty that 
during the time of your Imperial Highness's entry, your 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 55 

Imperial Highness thought of naught but the all-highest 
approval of His Majesty." 

Whereupon I shook his hand again and dismissed 
him. "It will please me immensely, Count," I said, "im- 
mensely." 



CHAPTER XII 

ROYAL DISGRACE — LIGHTNING AND SHADOWS 

Ordered around by the Queen — Give thanks to a bully — Jealous 
of the "mob's" applause — "The old monkey after 'Hochs' " — 
Criticizing the "old man" — Royalty's plea for popularity — 
Proposed punishments for people refusing to love royalty. 

Dresden, September 8, 1893. 

Thrice twenty-four hours of royal disgrace and I am 
— alive. This morning: "All-highest order," signed by 
Her Majesty's Dame of the Palace, Countess von Minck- 
witz: "The Queen is graciously pleased to invite your 
Imperial Highness to audience." 

Of course her pleasure is a command. I dressed in 
state and ordered all the ladies and gentlemen of my court 
to attend me to the royal chambers. 

Queen Carola was very nice, giving the impression 
that she would be more lovely still if she dared. 

"Prince George has just commanded your husband," 
she said, — "the King ordered this condescension on my 
brother-in-law's part. You will have to thank him for it." 

Isn't it amusing to be an Imperial Highness and a 
Crown Princess to be ordered around like a "boots" and 

57 



58 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

to be "commanded** like an orphan child to say thanks to 
one's betters! 

I promised and the Queen, assuming that I intended 
to act the good little girl, took courage to say — for she 
is the biggest of cowards — "You are too popular, Louise. 
Such a reception as you had! All the papers, even the 
Jew-sheets, are full of it." 

And before I could make any excuses for my popu- 
larity she added in sorrowful, half-accusing tones: "I 
lived here ever so many years and the mob never ap- 
plauded me" 

"It's so fickle," I quoted. I had to say something, you 
know. 

"And contemptible," added the Queen heartily. "But 
how is baby?" 

I begged permission to send for him. Her Majesty 
was pleased to play with the little one for a minute or 
two and that secured me a gracious exit. The Queen 
attended me to the door, opening it with her own royal 
hand, thereby rehabilitating me with my entourage waiting 
outside. 

Meanwhile Frederick Augustus had a "critical quarter 
of an hour" with father-in-law, who assumed to speak on 
behalf of the King. 

"The King," he said, "despised 'playing to the gallery' 
worse than the devil hated holy water." (This court is 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 59 

overrun with Jesuits, and we must needs adopt their ver- 
nacular.) 

The King, he repeated, thought it very bad taste for 
anyone to take the centre of the stage in these "popularity- 
comedies," and he told a lot more lies of the same charac- 
ter. Then he bethought himself of his own grieved 
authority. 

"Tell your wife," he said, "that I, her father-in-law, 
and next to the throne, do everything in my power to 
escape such turbulent scenes, and that I would rather ride 
about town in an ordinary Droschke (cab) of the second 
class, preserving my incognito, than in a state carriage 
and be the object of popular acclamation." 

When Frederick Augustus repeated the above with 
the most solemn face in the world, I thought I would die 
with laughter and actually had to send for my tire-woman 
to let my corset out a few notches. 

"The old monkey," I cried — "as if he wasn't after 
'Hochs' morning, noon and night; as if he thought of 
anything else when he mounts a carriage or his horse." 

"You forget yourself, Louise," warned Frederick 
Augustus in the voice of an undertaker, and I really 
think he meant it. But I wasn't in the mood to be 
silenced. 

"And as if I didn't know that, like Kaiser Wilhelm, 
he keeps a record of towns and villages that were never 



60 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

honored by one of his visits, intending to make his cere- 
monial entry there at the first plausible opportunity/' 

"It isn't true," insisted Frederick Augustus. 

Then I got angry. "It may be thought polite in the 
bosom of your family to call one another a liar," I retorted, 
"but don't you get into the habit of introducing those tap- 
room manners in the menage of an Imperial Highness of 
Austria. I forbid it." 

And then I gave rein to some of the bitterness that 
had accumulated in my heart against the old man. Didn't 
I know that George was mad enough to quarrel with his 
dinner when, on his drives about town, he observed a sin- 
gle person refusing to salute him? And wasn't it a fact 
that the Socialists had combined never more to raise their 
hats to him just because he insisted on it? And wasn't 
that one of the reasons why the government was more 
hard on them than happened to be politic? 

"You mustn't say these things," pleaded Frederick 
Augustus. 

I pretended to melt. "May I not quote your father's 
own words?" 

"What my father says is always correct," replied the 
dutiful son. 

"Well, then, this is what he told House Minister von 
Seydowitz a couple of weeks ago : *When I see one of these 
intending destroyers of the state and social order staring 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 6l 

at me, hat on head and cigar in face, I doubly regret the 
good old times when kings and princes were at liberty 
to yank a scoundrel of that ilk to jail and immure him 
for life, giving him twenty-five stripes daily to teach him 
the desirableness of rendering unto Caesar that which is 
Caesar's/ " 

Frederick Augustus was holding his hands to his ears 
when I finished. He ran out and slammed the door be- 
hind him. 



CHAPTER XIII 

UNSPEAKABLE LITTLENESSES OF PETTY COURTS 

Another quarrel with my husband — Personal attendant to a 
corpse — Killing by pin pricks— The mythical three "How 
art thou'sf" — Unwanted sympathy from my inferiors — Pride 
of the decapitated Queen of France is in me — Lovers not 
impossible — Court to blame for them — My husband acts 
cowardly — Brutalizes my household — I lock myself in. 

Dresden^ December i, 1893. 

I saved myself the trouble to record events for two or 
three months. I expect my child by the end of the year 
and, believing in prenatal influence, it would be a shame, 
I think, to poison the unborn baby's mind by dwelling on 
the unspeakable littlenesses that make up and burden life 
at this petty court. 

But I may die in the attempt of presenting Saxony 
with another candidate for appanages and honors, and 
this threat, hanging over every expectant mother, makes 
me take up my pen again. If I perish, let there be a rec- 
ord of my sufferings and also of my defiance. 

It turned out that the Queen's and George's apparent 
acquiescence to my sinful popularity marked the deceitful 
calm before the storm. Frederick Augustus has not sue- 

63 



64 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

ceeded in gaining the King's and his father's forgiveness 
even now. As a military officer he is shunted from pillar 
to post, and the generals and high officials of the court 
treat him like a recruit in disgrace. Of course he blames 
me, shouting that I wrecked his career. 

As if a future king need care a rap whether, as 
prince, he got a regiment a few months earlier or later. 

"When you are King,'' I sometimes say to him, "you 
may nominate yourself Field-Marshal-General and Great- 
Admiral above and below the sea — what do you care?" 

"It isn't the same," he moans. "I would like to have 
my patents signed by uncle or father." 

"Antedate your papers," I advised, "who dare dispute 
the king? Didn't the Kaiser nominate himself Adjutant- 
General to his grand-dad long after William I lay moulder- 
ing in Charlottenburg ?" 

But Frederick Augustus takes colonel-ships and his 
petty kingship of the future too seriously to see even the 
humor of appointing oneself personal attendant to a corpse. 

As for me, if I weren't enceinte, they would send me to 
some lost-in-the-woods country house to die of ennui. But 
respect for public opinion forbidding drastic measures, 
George relies on a Russian expedient to humble my proud 
self and force me to submit to his meddling. 

In the Czar's country, when a village resolves on the 
death of some obnoxious individual, they take him, or her. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 65 

and bind the body naked to a tree. Then several papers 
of pins are distributed among the inhabitants, and each 
man, woman and child is asked to put a pin in the lady or 
gentleman, whom they must approach blindfolded. They 
stick the pin wherever they touch the body and if the thing 
leaks out are able to swear by all the saints that they don't 
know where it struck. The pin pricking is continued until 
the obnoxious one expires amid awful tortures and, while 
all contributed to the murder, none can be hanged for it. 

In like manner George and his minions are trying 
to reduce me to the position of social and political corpse. 

Court festivities and public acts, attended by the court, 
seem to be specially arranged to pillorize me and husband. 
We are invited, of course. We are next in importance to 
Prince George. Our entourage is more numerous and more 
richly costumed than that of the other princes. Four 
horse coaches for us; Ministers of State waiting on us. 
I have train-bearers, pages, what-not. 

But the King and Prince George cut me and Freder- 
ick Augustus in sight of the whole court, of the public 
in fact ! 

I don't mean to say that the "All-highest Lords," as 
they call themselves, treat us as air, or offer insult plain 
to the ear and eye — they couldn't afford to — nevertheless 
the stigma of royal disfavor is stamped on us. This is the 
mode of proceedings: Ceremony obliges the King to ad- 



66 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

dress each member of the royal family with the words: 
*'How do you do?'', in the German fashion, ''How art thou?" 

To princes and princesses that are in disgrace, this 
momentous question is put only once. Those in good 
standing are asked three times. 

Ever since that September day when all Dresden did 
me honor, the King and Prince George have said *'How 
art thou'sT' to me and mine but once, whenever and wher- 
ever we met, and be sure there were always listeners to 
report the double omission. 

At first it amused me; then enraged me; I don't care 
a fig now. But Frederick Augustus ! Poor imbecile, he 
is eating his heart out about those two missing ''How art 
thou's?'^ and though he looks splendid in gala uniform 
he acts in the royal, but ungracious, presence like a green 
recruit expecting to be kicked and cuffed by his noncom- 
missioned officer on getting back to the barracks. 

As to my entourage, it surrenders to royal disfavor 
even as Frederick Augustus: depressed faces, pitying 
glances. I could box their ears for their sympathy. 

Am I not the great-granddaughter of that mighty Maria 
Theresa that ruled Austria and Hungary with an iron 
hand, lined with velvet. "Moriamur pro rege nostro" (We 
will die for our King), cried the Hungarians, when she 
appealed to their chivalry, her new-born babe at her breast. 
"Rege" not "Regina." They called her King. They for- 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 67 

got the woman in the monarch, yet I am treated like an 
insipid female always, never as the Crown Princess ! 

Let them beware. My full name is Louise Marie An- 
toinette. I was named after the Marie Antoinette of his- 
tory — another ancestor of mine — and the pride of the de- 
capitated Queen of France is in me ! My namesake was 
satisfied when she read the Saint-Antoine placard of June 
25, 1791 : "Whosoever insults Marie Antoinette shall be 
caned, whosoever applauds her shall be hanged." Some 
day I will dismiss the cattle that now grudge me the peo- 
ple's applause and punish those that insult me. 

Come to think of it, Marie Antoinette had not only 
pride and defiance, she had lovers too. Well, some day 
this Marie Antoinette may have lovers, and if it's wrong, 
let the recording angel debit my sins to the Saxon 
court. 

Thank God, I am blessed with that truly royal attri- 
bute, ability to dissimulate. '^Qui nescit dissimulare nescit 
regnare" was all the Latin Charles VIII knew, yet he made 
a pretty successful king for one who died at the age of 
twenty-seven. 

I always act as if the King, and father-in-law George, 
had asked me not once, or three times, but a dozen times 
"How art fhouf' I don't know anything about being in 
disgrace, I don't anticipate being snubbed and when I am 
snubbed I don't see it. 



6S THE STORY OF LOUISE 

The "all-highest Lord" looks daggers at me — I curtsy 
and smile ! 

Father-in-law Prince George exhibits the visage of a 
poisoned pole-cat at my table — I congratulate him on his 
good digestion ! 

Majesty pays no more attention to my presence than 
if I was a pillar, or a lackey; I greet him with my most 
devoted genuflections, rise from the carpet smiling all over 
the face and begin a frivolous conversation with the near- 
est man at hand, who in his fright acts as if he had taken 
an overdose of physic. 

If Frederick Augustus only had an inch of backbone, 
a pinch of ginger in his constitution ! But he always stands 
around with a red face and the mien of a penitent. No 
dog, accustomed to daily beatings, follows his master's 
movements with more anxious looks than the Crown Prince 
of this realm bestows upon the goings and sayings of the 
King and Prince George. 

Then, as recompense for his royal feast of toads, he 
plays the tyrant at home. Jellyfish in the state apartments, 
a brute in our own and — on the drill grounds, I am told! 
He is always finding fault with the servants, and cares 
not whether he calls his Court Marshal, or a groom, "Laus- 
bub," Poor Chamberlain von Tumpling earned that scurvy 
epithet the other day and he prides himself on being a 
nobleman and an army officer! Only this morning the 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 69 

prince roared and bellowed at one of my ladies, I thought 
she would have a stroke from righteous anger and vexa- 
tion. 

When he attempted to address me in the same fashion, 
I simply turned my back on him, went into my boudoir 
and locked the door. I will keep him "guessing'' for two 
days, sending for the court physician every little while. 

When he has to eat his meals alone and sleep alone for 
twice twenty-four hours, it will occur even to him that 
Louise is not made of the stuff that stands for being bullied. 



CHAPTER XIV 

IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ETHICS TRANSFERRED TO DRESDEN 

My husband's reported escapade — Did he give diamonds to a 
dancing girl? — His foolish excuses — "I am your pal" — A 
restaurant scene in St. Petersburg — The birthday suit. 

Dresden^ December 3, 1893. 

After all, Frederick Augustus has more spirit than I 
gave him credit for. Isabelle just told me that he has a 
new love, and a very appetizing piece of femininity she is, 
Frdulein Dolores of the Municipal Theatre. 

"She's as well made as you, Louise, and rather more 
graceful," she said, "only her expression is somewhat inert. 
She lacks animation. Of course, she hasn't your attractive 
bust." 

That devilish Isabelle sowed her poisonous information 
rather than pronounced it. "She has been seen with a new 
diamond-studded bandeau," she added. 

At that moment the Schoenberg came to say that baby 
wants me. Isabelle went along to the nursery, but I man- 
aged to take the Schoenberg aside. 

"I must know, before dinner, who gave the Dolores 
woman the new jewelry she is displaying; likewise whether 

71 



^2 ^ THE STORY OF LOUISE 

His Royal Highness is sweet on that hussy. No half- 
truths, if you please. I want to know the worst if there 
be any." 

The Schoenberg has a cousin who is a Councillor in 
the office of the police president, and the police president 
keeps a detailed record of the love affairs of all the 
actresses and singers employed in Dresden, — a relic of the 
time when stage folks, in European capitals, classed as 
"the King's servants." 

The Councillor came himself to report and, after lis- 
tening to what he said, I raised the boycott on Frederick 
Augustus without further ado, inviting him to my bed and 
board once more. 

"So you went slumming with Kyril," I said after we 
had retired for the night. 

"Who told you?" stammered the big fellow, reddening 
to the roots of his hair. 

"Never mind. I know all ! About the Dolores woman, 
her brand new diamonds, the pirouettes she did on the 
table and the many lace petticoats she wore." 

"My word, I didn't count them," vowed his Royal 
Highness. 

"Neither would I advise you to do so," I warned sternly, 
though as a matter of fact I was near exploding with 
laughter. "Now make a clean breast of it." 

"I swear I was only the elephant. The King himself 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 73 

would excuse me under the circumstances/' whimpered my 
husband. 

"You big booby," I interposed, ''can't you see that I'm 
not angry? I blab about you to the King? What do you 
take me for? I am your pal, now and always, in affairs 
liable to prove inartistic to the King's, or Prince George's, 
stomach. To begin with, what has an elephant to do with 
supping with a dancing girl?" 

Frederick Augustus explained that the name of the 
pachyderm applies to a third party, who attends a couple 
out for a lark until he proves a crowd. Our cousin, Grand- 
duke Kyril of Russia, visiting Dresden incognito, had pre- 
vailed on Frederick Augustus's good nature to serve him 
and the Dolores. 

'The Dolores is prettier than I?" I inquired. 

"Not at all. She has a black mole under her left 
bosom." 

"You saw that?" 

"How could I help it? Russian Grand-dukes never 
allow a girl to wear corsets at supper. Kyril says it in- 
terferes with digestion." 

How considerate of His Russian Imperial Highness! 

Well, they had a good time and I guess the Dolores 
earned her diamonds. A fair exchange is no robbery. 
"But in St. Petersburg," said Frederick Augustus, "they do 
these things better." And he gave an elaborate description 



74 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

of a famous restaurant there, where the princes of the 
imperial family hold high carnival occasionally. 

"The upper tier of dining rooms is reserved at night 
for any Grand-duke who promises his visit/' quoted my 
husband, "and the broad marble stairs leading to them 
must not be used by others. Well, one fine evening Grand- 
duke Vladimir and a crowd of nobles and officers supped 
at the 'Ermitaf and when they were all good and drunk, 
one of Vladimir's guests. Prince Galitzin, bet the host the 
price of the supper and a champagne bath for all, that he 
could induce the famous danseuse Mshinskaya to descend 
the stairs stark naked and walk among the tables below 
without anyone offering her insult. 

"The bet was accepted and the girl sent for. She was 
found in a near-by theatre and rushed to the ^Ermitaj' 
Of course, seeing that His Imperial Highness wished it, 
she consented to pull off the trick and — her clothes, but she 
made a condition." 

"She demanded tights," I suggested. 

"Pshaw, she is a sport, says Kyril." This in a tone of 
disgust from Frederick Augustus. He continued: "She 
merely begged his Imperial Highness to have it announced 
that she, Mshinskaya, was acting under the Grand-duke's 
orders. Done. *By His Imperial Highness's leave,' shouted 
the Maitre d'Hotel from the top of the stairs, as Mademoi- 
selle descended in her birthday suit. And the Mshinskaya 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 75 

made the tour of the restaurant as unconcernedly and as 
little subject to protests, or remarks, as if she had been 
muffled up to her ears. 

"That's what I call freedom — discipline," concluded 
Frederick Augustus. "Think of doing anything like that 
in a Dresden restaurant." 

"I would gladly give a year's allowance to the poor 
if you could manage it here while Prince George was mas- 
ticating a Hamburg steak at a table opposite the grand 
staircase," said I. 



r 



CHAPTER XV 

ROYALTY NOT PRETTY, AND WHY 

Fecundity royal women's greatest charm — How to have beautiful 

children. 

Dresden, February 25, 1894. 

Behold the mother of two boys in a twelve-month ! 
Frederick came just in the nick of time, Sylvester Eve 
(December 31, 1893), to gain me a little brief renown, for 
royalty likes its women to be rabbits and, in the reigning 
houses at least, we are esteemed in proportion to our fe- 
cundity. 

"January 15 — December 31," not half bad! Even Prince 
George had to admit that. And the Kaiser remarked: 
"Louise, if she keeps it up, bids fair to break de Villeneuve's 
record. Let me see, Sophie's first child was born January 
9 — a girl" (with a sneer) ; "her next, th*^ Hereditary Count, 
on December 28th of the same year." 

The "de Villeneuve" is Sophie, Countess of Schlitz. 
Wilhelm made her celebrated by his gallantries and Len- 
bach by the great portrait he painted of her wondrous 
loveliness. If I ever have a daughter, I will have a copy 
of the Lenbach canvas placed in baby's room. Come to 

77 



78 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

think of it, I will have one made right away to hang in my 
own boudoir. 

As stated, I believe in prenatal influence, and am more 
than convinced that the portraits of Saxon and Prussian 
princesses frowning from the walls of our palaces are cal- 
culated neither to promote beauty nor gentleness. 

If I had my way, I would send the whole lot to the 
store-room and fill the space they occupy with the present 
store-room treasures, old time portraits of August the 
Physical Strong*s favorites, Aurora von Konigsmark, Coun- 
tess Cosel, Princess Lubomirska, Fatime, the Circassian, 
the Orselska and — who can remember their names? 

As a rule, queens and princesses are conspicuous for 
lack of beauty, while kings and princes cut most ordinary 
figures in mufti. Only their uniforms, the ribands and dec- 
orations, the mise-efi'Sccne render them tolerable imitations 
of the average military man. 

Why? 

Because their mothers and fathers, their sisters, cousins 
and aunts see nothing but painted and photographed and 
sculptured frights and grotesques. So much ugliness of 
the past must needs cause ugliness of the present and 
future. 

In a century the thrones of Europe have known but 
two beauties, both plebeians, the Empress Josephine and 
the Empress Eugenie. My aunt, the Empress Elizabeth, is 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 79 

only good-looking, the German Empress was just an ordi- 
nary German Frau even in her salad-days. 

Well, my little girls, if I have any, shall profit by the 
lessons of the past. As expectant mothers in ancient Greece 
were wont to walk in the temple of Athene Parthenos, filled 
with the greatest sculptures the world has ever seen (ruins 
of them I admired in the British Museum), so I intend 
to have a gallery of my own for beauty's sake, even if 
every female figure be a harlot's likeness. 



CHAPTER XVI 

MORE JEALOUSIES OF THE GREAT 

Men and women caress me with their eyes — Some disrespectful 
sayings and doings of mine — First decided quarrel with 
Frederick Augustus — I go to the theatre in spite of him. 

Dresden, April i, 1894. 

I am afraid I wrote down some wicked things — wicked 
from the standpoint of the Saxon court — and though Queen 
Carola and father-in-law George know naught of my scrib- 
blings, punishment was meted out to me in full measure. 

Of course, it's my "damned popularity/' as the King 
calls it, that got me into trouble again. My carriage hap- 
pened to follow one occupied by the Queen at a distance 
of some hundred or more paces along the avenues of the 
Grosser Garten, I had no idea that Her Majesty was out 
at the time, and certainly was dressed to please the eye. 
I can't help it. It's a habit with me. 

Well, the optics of a good many of my future subjects 
grew long and cozening, like gipsies', when they beheld 
their queen-to-be; there was many a "flatteringly pro- 
tracted, but never a wiltingly disapproving gaze," and those 
who liked me — and they all seemed to — shouted "Our 

81 



82 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Louise," and Hurrah. They shouted so loud that poor 
Queen Carola got plenty of auricular evidence of how her 
successor-to-be was loved by the people, by her, Carola's, 
people. And the poor old girl got so "peeved," she 
ordered her coachman to turn back and proceed to 
the palace by the shortest route, through the least fre- 
quented streets. 

Frederick Augustus knew all about it before I reached 
home and was in a terribly dejected state. 

"This has to stop," he said with a fine effort at imi- 
tating authority. "On Sunday, when we drove home from 
High Mass, you got an ovation while the King's carriage 
passed almost unnoticed. And now this affront to the 
Queen." 

"Bother the old girl," I replied, stamping my foot. 

Frederick Augustus got as white as a sheet. "That's 
the language of a — a — " He knew enough not to finish. 

"It's the title by which Queen Victoria is known to 
many of her subjects." 

"Who told you that?" 

"I often run across it in the English newspapers." 

"Jew-sheets !" roared Frederick Augustus. 

"Since you don't understand a word of English, you 
couldn't distinguish the London Times from the Hebrew 
At Work." After this sally, I added maliciously: "I'm 
going to the Opera Comique tonight. Come along?" 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 83 

"You are not going to the Opera Comique/' shouted 
Frederick Augustus. 

"You don't want me to go, papa don't want me to 
go, uncle and aunt and cousins don't? So many reasons 
more why I shall go. I announced my coming and I will 
go, if I have to tear the ropes, by which you might bind 
me hand and foot, with my teeth." 

I rang the bell and ordered dinner served half an 
hour earlier than usual. Then I went to my dressing room 
to inspect the new gown that I intended to wear at the 
theatre. 

Girardi night! Girardi, the famous Vienna comedian! 
I never saw him. His humor will act as a tonic. Just what 
I need. I will die if I breathe none other but the air of 
this palace, that reeks with cheap pretensions, Jesuitical 
Puritanism, envy and hatred, where every second person is a 
spy of either the King or George. 

I must escape the polluted atmosphere for a few hours, 
at least, and laugh, laugh, LAUGH. 

* * * 

1 1 .-30 P. M. 
I have seen Girardi. I have laughed. I saw the Do- 
lores. And I don't blame Kyril a bit. 



CHAPTER XVII 

THE ROYAL PRINCE, WHO BEHAVES LIKE A DRUNKEN BRICK- 
LAYER 

I face the music, but my husband runs away — Prince George 
can't look me in the eye — He roars and bellows — Advocates 
wife-beating — I defy him — German classics — "Jew literature'* 
Auto da fe ordered. 

Dresden^ April 2, 1894. 

Chamberlain Baron Haugk, of the service of Prince 
George, called at nine A. M. and insisted upon seeing me. 
I sent out my Grand-Mistress, Baroness von Tisch, to tell 
him that "Her Imperial Highness would graciously permit 
him to wait upon her at half past ten." 

"But my all-highest master commands.'' 

I was listening in my boudoir and I went out to him 
only half-dressed, a powder-mantle over my shoulders. 

"Her Imperial Highness will not have her commands 
questioned by servants," I said in my most haughty style. 
The Kammerherr knocked his heels together, bowed to the 
ground and retired. That's my way of dealing with royal 
flunkeys, no matter what their title of courtesy. 

He was back at the stroke of the clock to announce his 
"sublime master" for one in the afternoon. 

85 



86 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"I will be ready to receive his Royal Highness. My 
household shall be instructed," I answered coldly, though 
I dread that old man. 

"You are not wanted," I told Frederick Augustus. 
"Better make yourself scarce." He didn't need to be told 
twice. "Undress-uniform," he shouted to his valet. "And 
send somebody for a cab." 

"Why a cab?" I inquired. 

He looked at me in a pitying way. "Women are such 
geese," he made answer. "Don't you see, if I left the' 
palace in one of our own carriages, the King, or father, 
might notice and call me back." 

"Oh, very well. And don't 'celebrate* too much while 
you are out." 

I had the lackeys line the staircase and corridors. My 
military household stood in the first ante-chamber, my 
courtiers in the second, my ladies in the third when Prince 
George walked into my parlor. At first he acted in no 
unfriendly manner. He kissed me on the forehead and 
asked after the babies, and if he hadn't riveted his eyes all 
the time into some corner of the room — ^his stratagem when 
in an ugly mood — I might have persuaded myself that he 
wasn't on mischief bent. 

But he soon began pouring out his bile. With a face 
like a wooden martyr he announced that he was not pleased 
with me. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 87 

"You are too much of a light-weight, too vivacious, too 
attractive to the mob," he said in his bitterest tones. **'You 
are forever seeking the public eye like — an actress." 

"I beg your Royal Highness to take notice that Im- 
perial Princesses of Austria" — I put some emphasis on the 
Imperial — "while popular, never descend to jugglery," I 
answered politely, but firmly. 

"No offence to your Imperial Highness," said George, 
"but you must understand once and for all that Saxon 
princes and princesses are bound by our house laws to 
the strictest observance of precedence. The love of the 
people naturally goes out to the King and Queen. Junior 
members of the Royal House must not seek to divert to 
themselves the popularity that is the King's own." 

"I have always been taught to respond to popular 
greetings offered me. My aunt, the Empress Elizabeth, in 
particular instructed me to that effect," I submitted with 
great deference. 

"Her Majesty didn't instruct you to make a show of 
yourself every hour of the day," hissed George, his eyes 
devouring the stove. 

"I drive out twice, in the morning to go shopping, 
in the afternoon to air my babies." 

George, unable to dispute me, abandoned pretensions 
of politeness or manners. He fairly roared at me: "You 
are travelling the streets all the time. It has to stop." 



88 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Whereupon I said in as sharp a voice as I could man- 
age: "And Your Royal Highness has to stop bellowing at 
me. I'm not used to it. In Salzburg and Vienna gentle- 
men don't use that tone of voice and that sort of language 
to gentlewomen." 

"Salzburg," cried George, "in Salzburg you got your 
ears boxed, but it didn't do much good to all appearances." 

"Your Royal Highness," I answered, "my mother has 
her faults, but it's no one's business outside of her imme- 
diate family. And no one at this court has a mother's 
authority over me." 

I saw that George was beside himself with rage. 
"If your husband," he snarled, "was as free with his 
hand as your mother, there would be an end to your fri- 
volities." 

"Your Royal Highness forgets what you admitted your- 
self, namely, that the indignities offered me while I was a 
child were bereft of beneficial results. And please take 
notice," I added, raising my voice, "I won't stand violence 
from anyone, neither from my husband — as you kindly sug- 
gest — nor from you, or the King." 

George was too surprised to even attempt a reply. He 
evidently didn't know what to say or do. To avoid my 
eyes that were seeking his, he turned his back on me and 
stepped up to a little table laden with books. He studied 
the titles for a while, then, turning suddenly, held a small 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 89 

volume towards me. His arm was out-stretched as if he 
feared to contaminate his uniform. 

"What have we got here?" he cried. 

It was my turn to be astonished. "Why, according to 
the binding, it must be Heine's Atta Troll/' 

"Atta Troll" cried George, and opening the book at 
random he read half to himself: 

"This bear-leader six Madonnas 
Wears upon his pointed hat, 
To protect his head from bullets 
Or from lice, perchance, it may be." 

He fired the volume on the floor and grabbed another. 
"Whafs this?" 

"As the title will indicate to your Royal Highness, 
Nietzsche's Zarathustra." For the life of me I couldn't 
see any harm in this portion of my library. 

George continued to rummage among the books. He 
acted like a madman. "What's this, what's this?" he kept 
on saying, turning them over and over. I thought it be- 
neath my dignity to answer. I just stared at the fanatic. 

After he finished his hurried examination, he took one 
book after the other and tossed it violently at my feet. 

"Heine, the Jew-scribbler," he cried, aiming a kick 
at Atta Troll. 

"Don't you dare," I said, "that book was given me by 
Her Majesty, the Empress of Austria." 



90 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"I can't believe it," shouted George, "that Jew-scrib- 
bler, the reviler of kingship." 

"He never lampooned the kings of Saxony," I calmly 
remarked, picking up the volume. "Here is Her Majesty's 
dedication to me." 

"Everybody knows the eccentricities of Her Majesty 
of Austria," shouted George. "Anyhow, who gave you per- 
mission to read such rotten stuff as this at our court?" 

"Prince George," I answered, taking two steps towards 
him, "Duke of Saxony, the Archduchess of Austria takes 
pleasure to inform you that in her house she asks no one's 
permission what to read or do." 

At this he turned drill-ground bully. "You are in the 
King's house," rang out his voice in cutting tones, "and at 
this moment I represent the King. And in the King's name 
I forbid you to read these obscenities, and in the King's 
name I hereby command that these books be destroyed at 
once." 

Well, since he talked in the King's name I had no 
leg to stand on. I merely bowed acquiescence and he 
strutted out, turning his back on me as he went without 
salutation of any sort. I ran into my room, locked the 
door and had a good cry. 



CHAPTER XVIII 



I DEFY THEM 



Laughter and pleasant faces for me — Frederick Augustus refuses 
to back me, but I don't care — We quarrel about my reading — 
He professes to gross ignorance. 

Dresden, May i, 1894. 

What's the use keeping a diary that is nothing but a 
record of quarrels and humiliations? After I finished the 
entry about my scene with Prince George, I felt considera- 
bly relieved. I had held my own, anyhow. But fighting 
is one thing and writing another. I am always ready for 
a fight, but "war-reporting" comes less easy. 

The unpleasantness with George brought in its wake, 
as a natural consequence so to speak, a whole lot of other 
squabbles and altercations, family jars and general rum- 
puses, which I cared not to embalm in these pages at the 
time. However, as they are part and parcel of my narra- 
tive, incomplete as it may be, I will insert them by and by 
according to their sequence. 

After George was gone I made up my mind that, his 
commands and threats notwithstanding, I must continue to 

91 



92 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

live as I always did: joyful, free within certain limits and 
careless of puritan standards. If the rest of the royal ladies, 
and the women of the service, want to mope and look sour, 
that's their affair. Let them wear out their lives between 
confessional, knitting socks for orphan children, Kaife- 
klatsches, spying and tale-bearing and prayer-meetings, — it 
isn't my style. I'm young, I'm pretty, I'm full of red blood, 
life means something to me. I want to live it my own way. 

I want to laugh; I have opinions of my own; I want 
to read books that open and improve the mind. I want 
to promote my education by attending lectures, by going 
to the theatre — in short, I don't want to become a dunce 
and a bell- jingling fool like the others. 

If that spells royal disgrace — be it so. Louise won't 
purchase two ''How art thou'sf" at the price their Majes- 
ties and Royal Highnesses ask. 

Of course, it would come easier with Frederick Augus- 
tus's help and support, but since he chooses to be bully- 
ragged and sat upon and, moreover, finds pleasure in lick- 
ing the hand that strikes at his and his wife's dignity, I 
will go it alone. 

I defy them. 

* * * 

Dresden^ June i6, 1894. 

I had another tif¥ with Frederick Augustus, but the 

cause is too insignificant to deserve record. I will rather 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 93 

tell about our grand quarrel following Prince George's visit. 
We dined alone that day, as he was eager to hear the 
news. The preliminaries didn't excite him much, but when 
I mentioned the book episode, he bristled up. 

"You won't allow the King, or Prince George, to dic- 
tate what I shall read or not read?" I demanded. "My 
house is my castle and I won't brook interference in my 
menage/' 

"Do you really suppose," replied Frederick Augustus, 
"that ril court royal displeasure for the sake of those Jew- 
scribblers ? I never read a book since I left school and can't 
make out what interest books can have to you or anyone 
else. Where did you get them, anyhow?" 

I told him that Leopold suppHed my book wants. "My 
brother is a very intelligent man," I said, "and the books 
he gives me are all classics in their way." 

"Go to with your book-talk !" he mocked in his most 
contemptuous voice. "I asked the director of the royal 
library and was told that each of the books, to which father 
objects, was written by a Jew. Let Jews read them. It 
isn't decent for a royal princess to do so." 

"My brother isn't a Jew." 

"But in utter disgrace in Vienna. No one at court 
speaks to him. He is head over heels in debt and the next 
we know he will be borrowing from us. As to those books, 
don't bring any more into the house. Royal princes and 



r 



94 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

princesses have better things to do than waste time on Jew- 
scribblers." 

With that he violently pushed back his chair and left 
me, a very much enraged woman. He didn't give me the 
chance to have the last word. 



CHAPTER XIX 

ATTEMPTED VIOLENCE DEFEATED BY FIRMNESS 

Frederick Augustus seeks to carry out his father's brutal threats 
— Orders and threats before servants — I positively refuse to 
be ordered about — Frederick Augustus plays Mrs. Lot — 
Enjoying myself at the theatre. 

Dresden^ June 17, 1894. 

The chance came later and with it the conviction that 
His Royal Highness, Prince George, didn't quite believe 
me when I told him that I wouldn't stand for violence, for 
tonight Frederick Augustus attempted something of the 
sort. 

I had ordered my carriage for seven o'clock to drive 
to the theatre, and had just finished dressing when he 
stormed into my boudoir and demanded to know if I had 
taken leave of my senses. 

"Not that I am aware of." 

"But I hear you intend to go to the theatre — a princess 
in disgrace going to the theatre !" 

"Aren't you coming along, Frederick Augustus?" I 
asked naively. 

"I have no desire to lose my regiment." 

95 



96 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"And I have no desire to sit at home and talk noth- 
ingnesses with the fools His Majesty appoints for my 
service." 

"Take a care/' cried Frederick Augustus. 

"Don't be a noodle and a coward," I answered hotly. 

"Louise, remember that I am an army officer." 

"What has that to do with my going to the theatre?" 

"It's the height of audacity to defy the King." 

"It would be the depth of cowardice to stay at home.'' 

"Take back that word, or " 

"I wish Your Royal Highness a very pleasant eve- 
ning," I said, indulging in a low genuflexion. 

Frederick Augustus got blue with rage. I saw him 
clench his fists as I swept out of the room, making as much 
noise with my train as I could manage. 

"An out-rider," I commanded the Master of Horse who 
stood in the ante-chamber awaiting me. 

"At your Imperial Highness' commands," bowed the 
Baron with the most astonished face in the world. We use 
out-riders, that is grooms in livery, to ride ahead of the 
royal carriage, only on state occasions in Dresden. But, 
of course, my orders would be obeyed even if I had de- 
manded twelve grooms to attend me. 

I was just going out, preceded by my Chamberlain and 
followed by my ladies, Baroness Tisch and Frdulein von 
Schoenberg; there were two lackeys at the door and in 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 97 

the corridor stood the groom-in-waiting, holding several 
lap-robes for me to decide which to take, when the Prince 
caught up with me. 

'1 forbid you to go to the theatre," he bawled in the 
presence of my titled entourage and three servants. 

I realized at once that this was the supreme moment 
of my life at the court of Saxony. Either bend or break. 
If I allowed myself to be roared at and ordered about like 
a servant-wench — good-bye the Imperial Highness ! Enter 
the Jenny-Sneak German housewife, greedy for her mas- 
ter's smile and willing to accept an occasional kick. The 
Prince had begun this family brawl in public. I would 
finish. 

"I won't take orders," I held forth. "No commands, 
understand, princely, royal or otherwise. And be advised, 
now and for all time, that I will answer any attempt to 
brutalize me by immediate departure, or by seeking refuge 
with the Austrian Ambassador." 

If Frederick Augustus had suddenly become Mrs. Lot 
he wouldn't have been more conspicuous for utter petrifi- 
cation and silence. He stared at me with wide-open, bleary 
eyes and if I had taken him by the neck and feet and 
dropped him out of the window, as his ancestor Augustus 
of the three-hundred and fifty-two took the "spook" sent 
into his bedroom by Joseph the First, he wouldn't have 
offered the ghost of resistance, I dare say. 



98 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"Your arm, Mr. Chamberlain, since His Royal High- 
ness doesn't wish to accompany us." And I swept out of 
the ante-chamber and through the corridor, triumphant. 

"Gipsy Baron" was the bill of the play. I knew only 
a few of its waltzes and I drank in the comedy and the 
pretty music like one desperately athirst. KyriFs girl, the 
Dolores, was very chic and looked ravishingly pretty, and 
brother-in-law Max isn't the dunce I took him for. 

His Theresa is a droll dog, fair to look upon, dark 
and fat. It will take a lot of holy water to save her from 
purgatory. 

Girardi made me screech with laughter. He is as funny 
as my father-in-law is mournful — a higher compliment to 
his art I cannot pay. Of course, actor-like, he appreciated 
an Imperial Highness' applause and looked up to my box 
every little while. I wish, though, he hadn't acknowledged 
my plaudits by bowing to me. It attracted general atten- 
tion and soon the whole house was staring and smiling. 
The people seemed to be glad that their Crown Princess 
was enjoying herself. 



CHAPTER XX 

TITLED SERVANTS LOW AND CUNNING 

George tries to rob me of my confidante — Enter the King's spy, 
Baroness Tisch in her true character — Punishment of one 
royal spy. 

Dresden^ August i, 1894. 

Prince George is planning a devilish revenge. He 
threatens to separate me from my Secretary and confidante, 
little Baranello, whom I brought with me from Salzburg. 
She is an Italian, and, unlike most of them, as faithful as 
a dog. A connection of the Ruffo family, princes and dukes 
that gave the world more than one pope, the small fry 
Saxon nobility hate her, and George knows that he can't 
corrupt Lucretia by his paltry presents and ridiculous con- 
descension. 

They would send her back to Salzburg, if they dared, 
— anyhow. Baroness von Tisch is to be both Chief Mistress 
and confidential secretary. If she died of the first confidence 
I make her, she wouldn't live five minutes. 

The King's Plouse Marshal, Baron von Carlowitz, came 
to announce the change to me, but I knew, of course, that 
it was George's doings. 

99 



100 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"Tell Prince George," I said icily, "that I appreciate 
the fact of being deprived of the services of an honest 
woman in favor of a spy/' 

I will "show" this Tisch woman, as my American 
friends say. Some three years ago Emperor Francis Jo- 
seph appointed a spy as attendant to my brother Leopold. 
Schoenstein, Baron or Count, was his name, I think. 
Schoenstein would rather bear evil tales of his young mas- 
ter to his old master than eat, and nothing would please 
him better than to meddle with Leopold's correspondence. 

He stole as many letters as he could lay his hands on. 
Fished them even from slop-pails, or pieced together such 
as Leopold tore up and dropped in the cuspidors. When 
brother observed this, he used to tear up bills and the most 
innocent writings of his own and other people into little 
bits and planted them in Schoenstein's hunting-grounds. 
Appropriate work for a lick-spittle to pull them out. But 
Leopold got tired of playing with this vermin, and it 
tickled him to make an example of the scamp. Hence, he 
allowed it to be observed by Schoenstein when he, Leopold, 
locked a parcel of letters from his girl in the cash-box. 

The toad-eating Schoenstein burned with desire to copy 
these letters and send the transcript on to Emperor Francis 
Joseph. They would have made interesting reading to my 
old uncle who has given up cracking nuts since his teeth 
fell out. There is Kati Schratt, you say. Pshaw, Kati is 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY lOI 

as old, or nearly as old, as his Majesty and she isn't a 
Ninon de FEnclos by any means. 

To cut a long story short, Schoenstein could see but 
one way for getting those compromising letters: steal the 
keys and borrow the parcel for a short while. That's what 
Leopold was waiting for. Not half an hour after the keys 
had been abstracted, he raised the alarm. He had been 
"robbed." The archducal safe had been rifled. And he 
managed to catch Schoenstein red-handed. 

"Send for the police," thundered my brother, "and 
meanwhile watch the thief well." Schoenstein was given no 
chance to explain and deemed himself lucky to escape ar- 
rest. My brother suspended him from service and made 
him go to a hotel while he telegraphed the story of the 
attempted theft to Vienna, asking the Count's immediate 
dismissal. 

Of course, Vienna disavowed the dunderhead — royalty 
has no use for persons that allow themselves to be com- 
promised — and he has been in disgrace ever since. Nor 
can he get another courtly office, for Leopold threatened 
the moment he sees him with a Highness to warn evefy- 
body: "Look to your watch and purse, we have a thief 
with us." 

I jotted this down to remind me that Prince George's 
spy deserves no better than the Emperor's. 



CHAPTER XXI 



BANISHMENT 



I am ordered to repair to a country house with the hated spy as 
my Grand Mistress — My first impulse to go home, but afraid 
parents won't have me. 

Dresden, August lo, 1894. 

Order from the King that myself and children spend 
the rest of the summer at Villa Loschwitz, to remain until 
I get royal permission to return to Dresden, — the Tisch to 
act as chief of my household. 

Banished! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. 
Smile, because I escaped the ennui of attending court at 
the summer residence of Pillnitz; weep, because my absence 
from court would be interpreted as a disciplinary measure. 

I know Pillnitz is about as gay as a Trappist feast 
of carrion and ant's milk, but this princess doesn't want to 
be disciplined. 

I shall tell them that I want to go home, but will they 
have me in Salzburg? Papa, of course, but if mother hears 
of my acquaintance with Heine, "who doesn't love Jesus," 
— ^her own words, — she will undoubtedly side with Prince 
George against her daughter. It was Heine who wrote of 

103 



104 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

one of her ancestors, King Louis of Bavaria: "As soon 
as the monkeys and kangaroos are converted to Christian- 
ity, they'll make King Louis their guardian saint, in proof 
of their perfect sanity." And you don't suppose for a mo- 
ment that mamma forgets a thing like that. As to Nietz- 
sche, he will give her no conscientious qualms, for Fm sure 
she never heard of the gentleman, but my going to the 
Gipsy Baron "where two princely mistresses are gyrating" 
— ^horrible ! 

I hear her say: "I think Prince George is most con- 
siderate sending our daughter to Loschwitz. She deserved 
to be put in a nunnery and made to kneel on unboiled peas 
three times a day." And when it comes to an eclatj even 
papa may have to abandon me. Emperor Francis Joseph 
holds the purse-strings; and papa always lives beyond his 
means and Francis Joseph, King Albert and Prince George 
are fast friends. If papa quarrelled with the two latter 
gentlemen, they would immediately denounce him to the 
Emperor. The rest can easily be guessed. 

Sorry, but papa is no hero in his daughter's eyes. 



CHAPTER XXII 

"poor relations'^ in royal houses 

Myself and Frederick Augustus quarrel and pound table — The 
Countess Cosel's golden vessel — Off to Brighton — Threat of 
a beating — I provoke shadows of divorce — King threatens 
force — More defiance on my part — I humble the King and 
am allowed to invite my brother Leopold. 

Villa Loschwitz,, September i, 1894. 

Father had to give in. He is the poor relation, and 
a poor relation in royal circles doesn't amount to more than 
one among well-to-do merchants and farmers. He has no 
rights that others need respect and if he shows backbone 
he is given to understand that the head of the family has 
other uses for the palace or hunting grounds lent him. 

"I would love to have you with me in Salzburg," he 
wrote, "but, dear child, if s for your best to learn to obey. 
Do it for your old father's sake." 

Still I wouldn't give in at once. "I won't go to Losch- 
witz," I declared. And gave a dozen reasons besides the 
paramount one that I wouldn't go, because Prince George 
wanted me. 

"I'm no trunk to be shipped hither and thither at 
someone's behest," I said. 

105 



I06 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Frederick Augustus took umbrage at the "someone," 
which he pronounced lese majeste, and to emphasise the 
fact hit the table with a bang, whereupon I pounded the 
table twice: bang-bang! 

It hurt my hand, and didn't do Frederick Augustus 
any good. Nor was the discussion advanced thereby. For 
the rest: an exchange of names and epithets that smacked 
of the kitchen rather than the salon. 

"Too bad you exhaust all your energy with me," I said 
among other things, "while in the royal presence you act 
the docile lamb's tail." 

He began prating about his character as an army 
officer again, and I reminded him that I wasn't the Coun- 
tess Cosel. 

"Who's that?" asked the big ignoramus. 

"Never heard of the lady that refused to accompany 
Augustus to the Camp of Muhlberg unless he brought her 
a certain intimate golden vessel costing five thousand 
Thalersr 

"A loving cup?" asked my husband. 

"If you like to call it so." 

"But why did you say you are no Cosel?" 

"I meant to imply that I am not a prisoner of state 
and don't want to be treated like one. Hence, since a visit 
to my parents would greatly embarrass them, I decided to 
go to Brighton for the season." 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY IO7 

"Brighton," he repeated, "and where will you get the 
spondulicks ?" 

"I saved up quite a bit of money. Guess I can man- 
age the expense alright." 

"Lip-music," cried Frederick Augustus in his polite 
way. "You have no idea what such a trip costs." 

I assured him that I had made every inquiry and was 
able to meet all expenses. "We will go incog.," I added, 
"the babies and nurse and Lucretia. The Tisch woman 
shall have a furlough even before she asks for it." 

"Is that so?" Frederick Augustus laughed brutally. 
"You seem to forget that you are subject to our house 
laws." 

"And you seem to forget that I have a will of my 
own," I almost shouted. 

Frederick Augustus jumped up. "Not another word 
on the subject," he commanded. "The incident is closed." 

It suddenly occurred to me that Prince George had 
been talking once more to Frederick Augustus about the 
pugilistic performances of my mother. Perhaps he was 
trying to pluck up courage to beat me, a diversion not 
altogether unknown in the House of Saxony, according 
to the Memoirs of the famous Baron Schweinichen, Court 
Marshal and Chroniqueur, 

His diaries, covering a number of years, have many 
such entries as this: "His Royal Highness hit the Prin- 



I08 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

cess a good one on the 'snout' by way of silencing her 
tongue." Doubtless George would be delighted to have 
me "shut up" by some such process, but Frederick Augustus 
lacks the sand. 

When he was gone, I indicted a letter to the King, 
advising him in oily, malicious, yet eminently respectful 
language that, not wishing to figure as a prisoner of state, 
I had decided to spend the rest of the summer abroad with 
my children. At the same time I intimated that I was well 
aware of being in disgrace and being regarded with ill 
favor by the several members of the royal family. 

"If it pleases your Majesty," I added, "I will relieve 
a most unhappy situation by giving back his liberty to 
Frederick Augustus. I'll promise not to oppose divorce, 
or allow my family to interfere." 

This letter I sent to the King, sealing it with my 
personal arms, of which there is no duplicate at court. 
After that I sent three telegrams. One to papa, announcing 
that I was going to Brighton; another to the Palace Hotel 
in Brighton; a third to the Minister of Railways, command- 
ing that my saloon carriage be coupled to the Continental 
express night after next. I knew, of course, that the King 
would be informed of these messages in a twinkling. 

I waited an hour for the Powers to move; as a rule 
It takes them a week or ten days. Exactly sixty-five min- 
utes after sending my letter to the King, Frederick Angus- 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY IO9 

tus rode into the courtyard like a madman. He had been 
hurriedly summoned from the drill-grounds, I heard after- 
wards. He dismounted at the stairs leading to the King's 
apartments. Half an hour later, he slunk into my room, as 
serious as a corpse. There wasn't a trace of brutality in 
his voice as he said: 

"A fine row you kicked up/' 

I didn't favor him by questions, but kept looking out 
of the window. He walked up and down for five or six 
minutes, boring his eyes into the corners of the room. 
Suddenly, at a safe distance, he delivered himself of the 
following : 

"His Majesty interdicts your plans in toto. You will 
be conducted to Loschwitz tonight. Don't put yourself 
to the humiliation of trying to disobey. You are being 
watched." 

"His Majesty's own words?" 

"He refused to see me," answered Frederick Augus- 
tus, dejectedly. He acted as if pronouncing his own death 
warrant. "Baumann told me." (This is the King's Secre- 
tary.) 

I almost pitied the poor fellow, but I had to hold my 
own. 

"My dear Frederick Augustus," I said, "you can tell 
Baumann from me that I won't go to Loschwitz tonight; 
that for the present I intend to stay here and that, if they 



no THE STORY OF LOUISE 

force me, they'll need plenty of rope, for I will holler and 
kick and do all I can to attract attention." 

Maybe Frederick Augustus wanted to say something 
in reply, but open his mouth was all he could manage. 
Seeing him so bamboozled, I continued: "It is decided, 
then, that I stay, but I give you fair warning that I will 
skip to England sooner or later. I don't want you to get 
into trouble, Frederick Augustus, therefore inform Bau- 
mann without delay." 

Frederick Augustus got blue in the face. He seemed 
ready to jump on me, crush me between his cuirassier fists. 
I held up my hand. 

"Did Baumann tell you that I offered to accept divorce 
if it pleases the King?" 

Frederick Augustus changed color. White as a ghost, 
he fixed his eyes upon mine, momentarily, and murmured: 
"Have we got to that point?" 

He ran out of the room and a minute later was tear- 
ing up the stairs leading to the King's apartments. Lu- 
cretia says he returned within a quarter of an hour and 
tried my door. But I had locked myself in and refused 
to open. We didn't meet until dinner. Neither of us ate 
a bite, or said a word. Baumann was announced with the 
ice. He was all smiles, all devotion. 

"His Majesty will be pleased to see your Imperial 
Highness in a quarter of an hour," he said sweetly. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY III 

Frederick Augustus was a painted sepulchre when I 
coolly replied: "Pray inform His Majesty that I am not 
well and about to retire for the night.'' 

At this Baumann looked like a whipped dog. He 
probably thought it impossible for anyone to refuse to 
answer the summons of His Majesty. With the most down- 
cast mien in the world, he seemed singularly anxious to 
render himself ridiculous. "Maybe the Crown Prince will 
do in my stead," I suggested maliciously. 

Baumann grabbed at the straw and withdrew. A little 
while later a lackey came, summoning Frederick Augustus 
to Prince George. When he came back, he was all un- 
done. 

"Father treated me very well," he said. "He says the 
King regrets that your uncontrollable temper causes so 
many misunderstandings, and both His Majesty and father 
have no objection to your staying in Dresden if you like. 
Loschwitz was suggested because you and the children 
seem to need country air. 

"As to your proposed visit to England, the King begs 
you to consider that such a journey at this time is liable 
to provoke a scandal which would reflect not only on you, 
on us, but on your poor parents." 

The old story of the penurious relations, I thought 
bitterly, but on the whole I was well pleased. I had beaten 
and out-generaled them all. 



112 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"If Loschwitz isn't meant for punishment, I accept 
with pleasure," I said. "It's a very pretty place." Poor 
Frederick Augustus' face lit up. "But there must be an 
end to the talk about I being in disgrace. If the King is 
as friendly to me as he makes out, let him come and see 
me and the babies. As to summonses by Baumann or 
others, I won't accept them." 

"Very well," said Frederick Augustus, and I saw that 
I had risen mile-high in his estimation, "when will it be 
your pleasure to leave for Loschwitz?" 

"Tonight, if I have permission to invite Leopold for a 
week or so." 

"Are you stark, staring mad?" shouted my husband, — 
"Impose conditions after the King moderated?" 

"Go and tell Baumann I'll have Leopold or all is off," 
I said. 

Next morning: Ceremonial visit from the Queen. 
The tip of her nose was redder than ever and she seemed 
prepared to weep at the flicking of an eye-lash. She gave 
me a list of her troubles, mental, physical, political, matri- 
monial and otherwise, since the day she was born, but said: 
"Obedience to my father, the King, and obedience to my 
husband, the King, has enabled me to weather all storms. 
You, too, must learn obedience, Louise. It's women's only 
salvation and especially a princess's." 

I answered that I fully recognized my obligations to 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY II3 

the King. "I only object to being buffeted around like a 
piece of furniture." 

"I know, I know," said the Queen, "and hope all is 
arranged satisfactorily. The King will be glad if you 
invite your parents to Loschwitz." 

"I asked permission to invite Leopold." 

"But, no doubt, your parents would take more interest 
in the children than your brother." 

"I don't dispute that, Your Majesty. But if my par- 
ents joined me at the present time, people might think they 
came to condole with me or else to scold me. I want 
Leopold." 

The Queen said she wouldn't dare mention Leopold to 
His Majesty. 

"Well, then," I concluded, "I shall stay in Dresden, 
regarding Baumann's fine promises as mere talk." 

The Queen went away with the air of a martyr, but 
three days later Baumann came and said His Imperial 
Highness was welcome. 

A triumph all along the line. I left Dresden without 
seeing the King. 

Frederick Augustus is at the manoeuvres. 

The Baroness is acting as my Grand Mistress. 

I expect Leopold in a fortnight. 



r 



CHAPTER XXIII 



A SERVANT-TYRANT 



My correspondence is not safe from the malicious woman ap- 
pointed Grand Mistress — Lovers at a distance and by corre- 
spondence — Fell in love with a leg. 

LoscHwiTZ, September 8, 1894. 

Baroness Tisch, now that she attained the height of 
her ambition, is beginning to show her claws. She is an 
infernal cat. Her skinniness makes her repulsive to me 
and her face gives everyone the impression that she just 
sucked an enormous lemon. She lisps and that makes me 
nervous. I feel like aping her when she isn't around. 

She's after me like the devil chasing a poor soul and 
as I never address her except to command or reprimand, 
she tries to find out any secret doings, or thinkings, I may 
be guilty of by way of letters I write or receive. 

According to the laws of most countries private cor- 
respondence is sacred, legally and morally. The late Field- 
Marshal, Count Blumenthal, wrote to his wife of the Crown 

Prince, afterwards Emperor Frederick, that he was a "d 

fool/' but "as communications between husband and wife 
are privileged," no official cognizance was taken. 

115 



Il6 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Otherwise in this petty kingdom and, as already told, 
in Austria, whose monarch, in family matters at least, 
holds to the ''UEtat c'est moi" maxim. 

The King's spy, the Tisch, constituted herself post- 
oflSce of Villa Loschwitz — a duty appertaining to her rank 
— and I wager she works the "Black Cabinet" to perfection. 
Of course, I am now careful in all I write and advise my 
friends to be, but I sometimes get letters from Unknowns, 
people that sympathize with me or have fallen in love with 
me. All women in high station have lovers among the 
lowly. I recall the Cardinal Dubois' yarn about Salvatico, 
envoy of the Prince of Modena, my kinsman of yore. The 
Italian was sent to Paris to conduct home his master's 
lovely intended, Mademoiselle de Valois, daughter of the 
Regent. It happened that the emissary was introduced to 
Mademoiselle^ s room an hour before the time set, when she 
was lying on a lounge "with one leg, almost naked, hanging 
down." Salvatico fell in love with the leg and exhausted 
himself in so many "Ah, ah's" of admiration and other 
love-sick stunts that the Duke of Richelieu, having older 
rights, said to him: "Rogue, if you had your deserts I 
would cut off your two ears !" 

No man, except my husband, has seen my legs, which 
is a pity, perhaps, but the extreme decollete demanded at 
certain court functions, especially in Berlin, gained me 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY II7 

many epistolary lovers, whose homage I accept gracefully, 
but in silence, of course. 

Still, a malicious thing like the Tisch, if one gives her 
enough rope, might arrange, on paper at least, to get me 
with child by a Lothario a hundred miles off, even as the 
children of Madame de Montespan and Louis XIV were 
credited to the Marquis, her husband, residing a hundred 
leagues away, at Guienne. Let me find her red-handed and 
she will fare even worse than Schoenstein. 



CHAPTER XXIV 

MORE TYRANNY OF A TITLED SERVANT 

My daily papers seized, and only milk-and-water clippings are 
submitted — "King's orders" — Grand Mistress's veracity 
doubted — My threats of suspension cow her. 

LoscHWiTZ^ September lo, 1894. 

This morning there were no newspapers at the usual 
hour. Instead, the Tisch furnished a heap of clippings 
carefully pasted up — the veriest milk-and-water slush 
"ever." Instanter I sent for my tormentor. 

"What's this?" I demanded. 

"Today's papers. Your Imperial Highness." 

"You made these clippings?" 

"At Your Imperial Highness's commands." 

"And you think me ninny enough to be satisfied with 
reading no more than what you consider proper for me 
to see?" 

The Tisch wavered not a bit. "His Majesty the King 
is served the same fashion." 

"No matter. I want my papers whole, and don't you 
119 



120 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

dare to mutilate them." By way of letting her down easier 
I added: "Don't give yourself the trouble." 

"No trouble, I assure your Imperial Highness. With 
your permission, then, I will continue to clip for Your 
Imperial Highness." 

I rose and, measuring her from head to toe with flam- 
ing eyes, I said: "You will do nothing of the kind, do you 
understand ?" 

The impertinent cat insisted: "But I think it 
proper " 

"Have you heard what I said or not. Baroness?" 

She tried to save her face by asserting, "I am acting 
by command of His Majesty." 

"I will ask His Majesty whether you spoke the truth," 
I said quick as a flash; "meanwhile you are suspended and 
will return to Dresden until recalled. Ring the bell and I 
will give orders to the Master of Horse to send you away." 

Of course Tisch couldn't afford such an inquiry to be 
made, which would have exposed her clumsy hand and, 
as remarked, royalty doesn't care to be found out. Defeat 
staring her in the face, Tisch wavered: "Of course, if 
your Imperial Highness chooses to take the responsibility, 
I will be most happy to submit the papers as they arrive." 

"In their wrappers," I commanded, as I dismissed her. 

By distributing a hundred marks in silver, I found out 
that the Tisch examines my body-servants daily and that. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 121 

night after night, she sits up hours writing long-winded 
reports. She is the King's tool, but she let the cat out of 
the bag when cornered. That gives me the whip hand for 
the time being. 



CHAPTER XXV 

THE TWO BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY UNITED 

Leopold Upon my troubles and his own — Imperial Hapsburgs 
that, though Catholics, got divorces or married divorced 
women — Books that are full of guilty knowledge, according 
to royalty — A mud-hole lodging for one Imperial Highness 
— Leopold's girl — What I think of army officers' wives — 
Their anonymous letters — Leopold's money troubles — We 
will fool our enemies by feigning obedience. 

LoscHWiTZ, September 15, 1894. 

Leopold is with me, the brother two years older than 
I. They just made him a Major — a twelve-month later than 
his patent calls for. 

Like myself, he is almost permanently in disgrace with 
the head of the family, even as I am with the King and 
Prince George. We had no sooner embraced and kissed, 
than I asked him for the latest gossip concerning the Crown 
Princess of Saxony. 

"You are a tough one," he said, shaking his finger with 
amused mockery. According to Vienna court gossip, "I 
threw Prince George out of doors," when he "raised 
his hand against me," Frederick Augustus and my- 

123 



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124 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

self haven't been on speaking terms for six months; and 
the Saxe family was actually considering the advisability 
of divorce. 

Of course I told Leopold how things really are. 

"Then there will be no divorce?" he asked. 

"If the King and Prince George leave me alone, — no." 

"Too bad," he said with a laugh, "that knocks me out 
of the pleasure of maintaining my thesis that the founder 
of the Christian religion didn't believe in indissoluble mar- 
riage, but, on the contrary, in divorce if such couldn't be 
avoided." 

"Who told you that?" 

"Professor Wahrmund is preparing a paper on the sub- 
ject," said Leopold, who, as remarked, is a very well-read 
chap and a student. He named five or six emperors and 
kings, Catholics, some of them members of the Austrian 
Imperial family, who obtained divorces, or married divorced 
women. I jotted down the list. 

Lothair II divorced his wife Theutberga and married 
his love, Waldrade. 

Emperor Frederick I divorced the Empress Anna on 
the plea that she was sterile. She married a Count, with 
whom she had a dozen children. 

Margaret, a daughter of Leopold VI of Austria, was 
divorced by King Ottokar of Bohemia. 

John Henry, Prince of Bohemia, divorced his wife 



1 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I25 

Margareta, who afterwards married an ancestor of the 

Kaiser, Ludwig of Brandenburg. 

King Ladislaus of Sicily divorced Queen Constance and 

forced his vassal, Andrea di Capua, to marry her against 

his will. Ten years later Ladislaus married Maria de 

Lusignan. 

He * * 

But a little knowledge is a terrible thing, if it happens 
to be acquired by a prince. Princes are supposed to know 
nothing but the art and the finesses of destruction — war. 
Upbuilding is not in their line. 

"I hear you are exercising a bad influence on Louise," 
roared our uncle, the Emperor, at Leopold when the latter 
took leave from him. "You furnished to her those in- 
fernal books, sowing the seed of guilty knowledge?'' 

Leopold so far forgot himself as to address a question 
to the "All-Highest'': "What infernal books?" 

"Books full of indecencies and obscenities, in short 
pornographic literature," shouted the head of the family, 
turned his horse and rode away in high dudgeon. Royal 
arguments are nothing if not one-sided! 

Then Leopold told of himself. His garrison: a filthy 
mudhole in Poland. One-story houses and everybody peep- 
ing into everybody else's windows. The few notables of 
the town and neighborhood tickled to death because they 
have an Imperial Highness with them, and the fool of an 



126 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Imperial Highness goes and "besots himself with a mere 
country lass." He showed me her photograph. I like her 
looks. A pretty face, blonde hair and soft eyes. He was 
her first lover. On his account she left her family. She 
dotes on him as a dog dotes on his master. 

Leopold IS eccentric enough to jeopardize his career 
for this poor thing. He rented a small house for her and 
spends much of his time there when not on the drill- 
grounds. 

Hence intense indignation among the "respectable 
ladies." An Imperial Highness within reach and he "doesn't 
come to our dances, he doesn't visit and sends his regrets 
when invited!" 

Poor Marja suffers especially from the venom of the 
officers' wives, — cattle I detest. No royal or imperial prince 
is safe from them except in his mother's womb. 

"From morn till night and half the night they do noth- 
ing but gossip about me and my girl," said Leopold, — "If 
the cats were only satisfied with that ! But every little 
while I get an anonymous letter from one of them, de- 
nouncing her; Marja is favored in a similar way; so is 
my general and our uncle, the Emperor." 

And needless to say Leopold can't get along on his 
salary and appanage. Father can't give him much. The 
Emperor won't, because the clergy intrigues against him 
as a free-thinker and non-church-goer. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I27 

We thought long and deep whether it wouldn't be pos- 
sible to improve our position and we decided on this: 

We will keep up each other's spirits by clandestine 
correspondence, carried on with the aid of a mutual friend. 
At the same time we will, apparently, fall in with the ideas 
of "our masters" and endure a few pin-pricks rather than 
waste our strength in useless opposition. 

Let no one chide us for hypocrites, because our gen- 
tleness will be a mask, our submission a snare, our obedi- 
ence a lie. It's all on the outside. Inwardly Leopold and 
Louise will remain true to themselves. 



i 



I 



CHAPTER XXVI 

FREDERICK AUGUSTUS CONTINUES VERY RAW 

Manners a la barracks natural to royal princes — Names I am 
called — My ladies scandalized — Leopold turned over a new 
leaf, according to agreement, and is well treated — The King 
grateful to me for having "influenced Leopold to be good." 

LoscHwiTZ^ October i, 1894. 

I have tried it a fortnight during Frederick Augustus' 
sojourn here, and, like the French Countess who fell in 
love with the strong man of the circus, I am disappointed. 
Frederick Augustus considers my tractability carte blanche 
to carry into the boudoir of an Imperial Princess the license 
of the brothel. He treats me like a kept-woman — all with 
the utmost good-nature. I am called names such as the 
other Augustus bestowed on the mothers of his three hun- 
dred and fifty-two, and I daren't remind him that some day 
I'll be Queen of these realms. 

This prince, like the majority of them, hasn't the ghost 
of an idea of a sensitive woman's nature. He paws me over 
like a prize cow, and as the fourteenth Louis esteemed his 
mistress's chamber- women no more worthy of notice than 
her lap-dogs, so Frederick Augustus makes love d la bar- 

129 



130 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

racks before the Schoenberg, Countess von Minckwitz, or 
whatever other lady is in attendance. 

Only when he does it before the Tisch I am inclined 
to be amused rather than incensed. Tisch, cadaverous 
beanpole, never felt a loving touch on her shoulder. 
The place where her bosom should be never experienced 
a friendly squeeze. No one ever cared whether she wore 
silk stockings or rubber boots — ^be amorous, Fred- 
erick Augustus, when the Tisch is 'round! Indulge 
your coarseness ! Put twenty-mark pieces in my stockings 
for a kiss. Tell gay stories and don't forget playing with 
my corsage. It will make the old woman mad. It will 
remind her of what she missed — of what she will miss all 
her life! 



LoscHwiTZ^ October 10, 1894. 

Letter from Leopold. He is going to church and — they 
leave his mistress in peace. 

He is paying banal compliments to the noble-women 
of his garrison and pinches the officers' wives when he finds 
one in a corner — and' they seem to live in corners when His 
Imperial Highness is around — ^hence, no more anonymous 
letters ! 

The spy planted in his household by the Emperor is 
allowed to see much of the "innocent" correspondence pass- 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I3I 

ing between me and Leopold. He has reported to Francis 
Joseph that the Prince turned over a new leaf. 

Result: Leopold's debts have been paid and he got 
about two thousand marks over and above his wants. 

Further results: A gracious letter from the King's 
House Marshal, Baron Carlowitz, praising me for "the good 
influence I am exercising on Leopold." 

Truly the world wants to be deceived. 



CHAPTER XXVII 

PRINCE MAX MAKES LOVE TO ME 

Wants me to consult him on all spiritual matters — Warns me 
against the Kaiser, the heretic bishop — Princes as ill-man- 
nered as Russian-Jew up-starts. 

Dresden^ November 15, 1894. 

Prince Max called on me the day of my arrival and 
promised me an armchair in Paradise for "reforming" Leo- 
pold. "I understand that your family life is ideal nov^," 
he added. "What bliss !" 

"Oh, Louise," he continued, with the face of a donkey 
v^ithdrawing his nozzle from a syrup barrel, "whenever 
doubtful of the right way, of the Lord's way, come to me." 

It would have been un-politic to repulse the grotesque 
ape, and I said: "I will. I will even give you the prefer- 
ence over the Kaiser, who asked me the same thing — as 
summus episcopus, of course." 

Max looked about the room. We were alone, yet he 
lowered his voice to a faint whisper. "William is a heretic. 
Don't trust him in religious matters," he breathed stealthily. 
And this devilish Max began to stroke my hands and ad- 
mire a bracelet I wore above the elbow. 

133 



r 



134 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

The Kaiser wouldn't have gone much further under 
the circumstances. Maybe he would have kissed my arm, 
though, from wrist to pit. 



Tonight family tea in the Queen's salon. The King 
an icicle, but polite as a French marquis. He gave me the 
three ''How art thou's'' in the space of five minutes, asked 
after the babies and promised to come and look them over. 

Frederick Augustus, half insane with delight, pinched 
my arm and squeezed my leg under the table. I felt like 
boxing his ears. 

My father-in-law had to behave in the presence of the 
King and said a few common-places to me. 

Johann George and Isabella talked automobiles, not to 
let us forget they are millionaires. 

"How much did you pay for my blue car?" asked 
Isabella. 

"Not much," replied Johann George; "sixty thousand 
francs, if I recollect rightly." 

"My allowance for a whole year." I smiled my sweet- 
est, and the King looked disapprovingly at the braggarts. 

For ill manners recommend me to a Russian- Jew up- 
start or to a Royal Highness. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

THE SHAH OF PERSIA FALLS IN LOVE WITH ME 

The "animal" and his show of diamonds and rubies — Overcome 
by love he treats me like a lady of the harem — On the de- 
fensive — The King of kings an ill-behaved brute — Eats like 
a pig and affronts Queen — Wiped off greasy hands on my 
state robe — When ten thousand gouged-out eyes carpeted his 
throne — Offers of jewels — "Does he take me for a ballet 
girl?" — The Shah almost compromises me — King, alarmed, 
abruptly ends dinner — I receive presents from him. 

Dresden, November 20, 1894. 

Lover No. two. Very much in earnest, like the first, 
but I — extremely distant this time, though I accepted some 
emeralds and sapphires as big as dove's eggs. The Shah of 
Persia is the happy-unhappy man. 

The King and all the Princes went to the railway sta- 
tion to receive him. The Queen and Princesses, our en- 
tourage behind us, assembled in the throne room to do 
honor to the "animal." To designate him otherwise would 
be callow flattery. 

But his diamonds and rubies fairly dazzled us. Noth- 
ing like it in Europe, and our gala uniforms, compared with 
his, like stage tiaras to the Russian Crown jewels ! 

Though he had eyes for me only, I didn't like him a 
135 



136 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

bit. He is a little fellow, unsecure on his pins. And, like 
the Balkan princeling I met in Vienna, looks as though 
there was a strain of Jewish blood in his veins. 

Like a true Oriental potentate, he wasted not a min- 
ute's time on the Queen and my sisters-in-law, but began 
making love to me as soon as he entered. The King had 
to take him by the arm to remind him that his first greet- 
ings were due to her Majesty. Poor Carola! Her face 
looked like parchment, much interlined, and the point of 
her nose was as conspicuous as usual. 

There's nothing elegant about this "King of kings," 
and his French, like his manners, is atrocious. He ad- 
dressed a few set phrases to the Queen, then attacked me 
— "attacked" is the right word. If I hadn't been on the 
defensive, I think he would have handled my charms as 
unceremoniously as Frederick Augustus when in his cups. 
As it was I escaped but by the length of an eye-lash. 

State dinner at five. I never saw such an ill-behaved 
brute, yet he intended to be most agreeable. We are very 
pious at this court, but on occasions like this even an old 
woman like the Queen is obliged to denude herself like a 
wet-nurse on duty. 

His Majesty had the Queen on one side; me on the 
left. The King of Saxony was opposite. 

After we sat down the Shah examined Queen Carola 
from the point of her chin to the edge of her desolate cor- 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 137 

sage and had the effrontery to express disapproval in all 
but words. Then he turned to me. His gaze became ad- 
miring. He was evidently delighted with his discoveries 
and, true despot that he is, turned his back on the Queen, 
while paying extravagant court to my charms. 

The King, the whole vast assembly, the surrounding 
splendor were lost on this mutton-eater of a barbarian. 
He saw only me, m-Cj ME, and I'm sure would have con- 
signed all the rest to some unspeakable Oriental death for 
five minutes' tete-a-tete with Louise. 

"You are neglecting Her Majesty," I whispered to 
him over and over again. This seemed to enrage him, but 
at last he turned to the Queen, expecting her to begin a 
conversation with him. Of course. Her Majesty thought 
he would take the initiative, which led to mutual staring, 
the Shah's eyes growing wickeder every second. Then he 
began to devote himself to the food and, be sure, there was 
small pleasure in watching him. He fed more like a dog 
than a human being and actually had the effrontery to wipe 
his sauce-spattered hands in the lap of my state robe. 

Then, before his mouth was empty, he began talking 
again. 

"Which of the princes is your husband?" 

I singled out Frederick Augustus. "He isn't a beauty 
by any means," he said, after examining him like a horse 
for sale. 



138 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

The next second his eyes were wandering over my 
body; I felt as if I was being disrobed. 

"You will attend the opera?" 

"lai have the honor/' 

"I will send you a little present after dinner," he said. 
"If you wear it tonight, I will regard that as a sign of 
hope." The beast affected a sentimentality to which he 
must be a stranger. 

I recalled that he was the monster who carpeted the 
steps of his throne with the gouged-out eyes of ten thou- 
sand enemies of his regime when he was crowned. On 
twenty-thousand human eyes he trod with naked feet as 
he acclaimed himself "King of kings" and the "true son of 
God." And Juggernaut was In love with me ! 

I was speechless. Did he take me for a dancing girl? 
I narrowed my shoulders and gave him a look of disdain. 
House Marshal Baron Carlowitz, standing behind the King's 
chair, took in the situation and whispered to King Albert. 

The King immediately rose from table and the state 
dinner came to an abrupt end. 

An hour later, while I was dressing for the theatre, 
a big jewel box was handed in. "From the Shah." 

Despite my disgust with the fellow, I opened it in 
feverish haste. There was a bracelet set with rubies, sap- 
phires and emeralds of fabulous size. 



CHAPTER XXIX 

THE SHAH COMPROMISES ME IN PUBLIC 

Has only eyes for me at the grand manoeuvres, and I can*t drive 
him from my carriage — Ignores the King and the military 
spectacle — Calls me his adored one — Court in despair — Shah 
ruins priceless carpets to make himself a lamb stew. 

Dresden, December i, 1894. 

I am in disgrace again and that uncouth animal, the 
Shah, is responsible. 

The dinner episode was bad enough, but he carried 
on worse at the grand parade next day. 

Six or eight regiments, Horse, Foot and Artillery, had 
been moved to do him honor, but he flatly refused to ac- 
cept a mount for the occasion. Like the ladies of the royal 
family, he drove to the parade field in a coach and four, 
and no sooner did he clap eyes on me at the rendezvous 
in another vehicle than he left his and shambled over to 
me. He stood at the carriage door, chanting love and de- 
votion, and if I hadn't been all ice, I have no doubt he 
would have jumped in and ordered the coachman to drive 
to a hotel. 

Meanwhile the King trotted around the manoeuvre 
139 



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140 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

field in honor of his "sublime guest." Evolutions, Parade- 
marsch, attacks, saluting the colors, Persian and Saxon, 
what not? Imagine the feelings of the old King when he 
rode up to the Shah's gala coach and found it empty. 

The marching past had begun, and still the "King of 
kings" turned his back on it all, while trying to persuade 
me to be Queen of his seraglio. 

Our courtiers, the princes, the Queen, the generals were 
in despair. They took counsel with each other, disputed, 
advised, got red in the face. The Shah's gentlemen alone 
kept cool. They probably argued: If our master pre- 
fers the company of a pretty woman to looking at ten 
thousand men, he shows his good taste. 

I tried to shake him off. He stood his ground and 
smiled. 

"The Grand March has begun. Your Majesty." 

"Bother the Grand March." 

The King began to bombard me with ungracious 
glances, and of course everybody stared. Three times I 
asked the big booby to return to his carriage to oblige his 
host. "Not while I may look at you, adored one." 

His love-making became desperate. The Crown Prin- 
cess of Saxony, the Imperial Highness of Austria, the 
"adored one" of this butcher, who was ruining twenty-five 
thousand marks' worth of carpets in his apartments at our 
palace by using them as a shambles to prepare his breakfast 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I4I 

of lamb stew. It was contemptible, — nay, ridiculous. Surely 
there was nothing to do but laugh. And I laughed and 
laughed again. 

Only when the last battalion had marched by and the 
music ceased, the "King of kings" returned to his carriage 
and drove back to Dresden with the most bored looking 
visage of the world. 



CHAPTER XXX 

MY LIFE AT COURT BECOMES UNBEARABLE 

Laughter a crime — Disappointed Queen lays down the law for 
my behavior — Frederick Augustus sometimes fighting drunk 
— Draws sword on me — Prince George would have me 
beaten — To bed with his boots on. 

Dresden^ January 5, 1895. 

Ever since the Shah left I have been the object of 
criticism, suspicions and down-right attacks by the pretty 
family I married into. These pages witness that I tried to 
conform to the absurd notions and comply with the nar- 
row-minded idiosyncrasies of the Royal Wettiners. I give 
it up. It can't be done, an3 I won't make another effort at 
pleasing my relatives-in-law, who adjudge laughter a crime 
and the desire to make friends a bid of lewdness. 

Prince George invented the phrase, "Louise is over- 
desirous to please," and Queen Carola paid me a state visit 
to acquaint me with the new indictment. 

"Good gracious," I said to Her Majesty, "is that all? 
I thought of being accused of *sassing' the Archangel Ga- 
briel. As to desire to please, that's exactly what ails me. 
I love to please. I love to see people happy. I love to 
make friends." 

143 



144 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"My dear child," said the Queen, "you haven't the 
slightest notion of royal dignity. You talk like a cocotte. 
It's a Princess's place to be honored, to be held in supreme 
esteem." 

Poor old woman ! She was never pretty, never was 
made love to, never had admirers, legitimate or otherwise; 
she thus became impregnated with the fixed idea that to be 
fair and to be loved for one's fairness is frivolous, if not 
altogether reprehensible. 

* * * 

March lo, 1895. 

Frederick Augustus drinks. He says I drive him to 
drink by my attitude towards his beloved family. What 
the beloved family does to me doesn't count, of course. 

Drinking was one of the vices of his youth. Love 
for me cured him of the dreadful habit. As this love 
wanes, the itch for alcohol increases. 

I can't do anything with him when he is drunk, and 
at such times I am afraid of him. He both nauseates me 
and frightens me. Sometimes he comes home "fighting 
drunk." The fumes of wine, beer and Schnapps, mixed 
with tobacco, upset my stomach and I try to avoid his 
coarse embrace as any decent woman would. 

What does this royal drill-ground bully do? He un- 
sheathes his sword and threatens to cut my liver out, unless 
I instantly doff my clothes and go to bed with him. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I45 

Prince George's evil counsel wasn't powerful enough 
to procure me beatings, but my husband's military educa- 
tion, his love of discipline, backed by alcohol, thrusts a 
sword into his hand, and, if I refuse to comply with his 
atrocious demands, I am liable to be treated like so many 
"mere" civilians that are sabred in the public streets for 
refusing to do some spurred and epauletted blackguard's 
bidding, or entertain his insults. 

If the Socialists, who are forever railing against these 
self-same army poltroons, only knew it ! An Imperial High- 
ness threatened like a small "cit" with a four-foot sword 
in the hand of a drunken Royal Highness and dragged 
to a couch with no more ceremony than a street-walker 
passing a Cossack barracks ! 

The howl that would go up in the Diet, or the Reichs- 
tag, the fulminant denials by prince and king and gov- 
ernment! And if I really did get hurt in one of these fra- 
cases, Frederick Augustus would be sure of a "severe 
reprimand" by father and uncle, and perhaps by the Kaiser, 
too, but would that heal my wounds, would it save me from 
death? Would it even prevent Prince George from say- 
ing that I myself was to blame? 

No, no, I like a whole skin and prefer an embrace 
to a sword-thrust any day, like my ancestress, the Queen 
of Naples, who consummated the marriage forced upon 
her on the spot and in sight of the army rather than have 



146 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

her head cut off. Too bad she was hanged in the end 
despite her complacency.* 

Indeed, if Frederick Augustus shows the mailed fist, 
I don't stand on ceremony, but I do wish he would take 
his boots off. 

* Joanna I, Queen of Naples, a pupil of Petrarca and in 
many respects an enlightened ruler. She issued the first laws and 
regulations regarding prostitutes. Hanged by order of King 
Louis of Hungary, after her defeat in battle, July, 1381. 



CHAPTER XXXI 

PRISON FOR PRINCES THAT OPPOSE THE KING 

Duke of Saxony banished — Cut off from good literature even — 
Anecdote concerning the Grand Dauphin and his "kettle- 
drums" — A royal prince's garrison life — His association with 
lewd women. 

Dresden, September i, 1895. 

I have once more come to the conclusion that the 
agreement I made v^ith Leopold, to dissimulate my real 
feelings, was the sanest decision I ever formed, for, while 
lettres de cachet are a dead measure as far as ordinary 
mortals go, kings still wield that awful and mysterious abuse 
of power in the family circle. 

There is a distant connection of our "sublime mas- 
ter," the King, lingering, without process of law, in a state 
prison. Duke of Saxony is his title, and he is quite 
rich in his own right. Some six or eight years ago 
he raised his hand against the King after the latter struck 
him. 

It was suggested that he had better make away with 
himself, and a revolver and poison were conspicuously dis- 
played in the room where he was held captive. 

147 



148 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

The Duke said "nay." He thought he could "brass" 
it out. But the assembled family council taught him that, 
while the world at large was Hn-de-siecle, royalty still lived 
in the traditions of the eighteenth century. It empowered 
the King to banish his kinsman to a lonely country house, 
styled castle by courtesy, and he is confined there even 
today, with the proviso, though, that he may use the sur- 
rounding hunting-grounds. Otherwise he lives in complete 
seclusion, separated not only from all his friends, but from 
the very classes of society to which he belongs by birth 
and education. And he is still a young man. 

I believe they are trying to drive him mad, once as a 
punishment, and again to secure his fortune the quicker. 
To the latter end, he is denied all books that give him 
pleasure and are liable to improve his mind. Bibles, Chris- 
tian Heralds, the Lives of the Martyrs, or the Popes, ga- 
lore, but never a Carlyle, Shakespeare or Taine, which he 
demands regularly. 

The Duke is dying of ennui, they say, and to kill time 
engages in all sorts of manual labor. When he gets tired 
of that he blows the trombone. 

"Of course he would prefer a pair of kettle-drums," 
said my cousin Bernhardt of Weimar, to whom I am in- 
debted for the above. 

"Kettle-drums?" I asked. 

"I mean those the Grand Dauphin, called *Son of a 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I49 

king, father of a king, never a king,' was so fond of, and 
which he finally married in secret." 

I looked bewildered. 

"You are a very ignorant girl," said Bernhardt. "Never 
heard of the prodigious bosoms of Mademoiselle Chouin?" 

"They won't let the Duke marry?" I queried. 

"Not even temporarily," said Bernhardt. "And they 
are trying the same game on me. My garrison — a dung- 
heap. The people there, males and females, entirely un- 
acquainted with soap and water. Nothing in the world to 
do but drink and gamble." 

"That reminds me. What are you doing in Dresden?" 

"With Your Imperial Highnesses permission, I came 
to see my girl." 

"Who is the lady?" 

"No lady at all. Just an ordinary servant-wench, but 
prettier and more devilish than a hundred of them." 

"Bernhardt !" 

"What would you have me do, Louise? I haven't 
money enough to keep a mistress, and King and Queen 
certainly won't keep one for me. I wish I had lived a 
hundred and fifty years ago, when every lady of the court 
was expected to entertain the royal princes, the Palace 
footing the bill." 



CHAPTER XXXII 

PRINCE GEORGE SHOWN THE DOOR BY GRAND-DUCHESS MELITA 

A royal lady who walks her garden attired in a single diaphan- 
ous garment — Won't stand for any meddling — Called imperti- 
nent — My virtuous indignation assumed — A flirtation at a 
distance — An audacious lover — The Grand Mistress hood- 
winked — Matrimonial horns for Kaiser — The banished Duke 
dies — Princes scolded like school-boys. 

Dresden^ February 5, 1896. 

At last Prince George got his deserts, and got 'em good 
and heavy. There had been rumors for some time that 
Grand-duke Ernest Ludwig and his bride, Victoria Melita 
of Saxe-Coburg, the English branch, didn't get along to- 
gether. Ernest Ludwig is a serious-minded, modest and 
intelligent man, but a good deal of a sissy. Victoria Melita 
is a spit-fire, very good-looking and anxious to let people 
know about it. She rides horseback and fences to show 
off her figure, and someone called her a Centaur. 

"Be in the palace gardens tomorrow at eleven," an- 
swered Melita, "and you will be convinced that I am not 
half-horse, even if my husband is a ninny." 

She kept the rendezvous, attired in a single garment of 
diaphanous texture. 

151 



152 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

When Prince George heard that she had a lover, he 
went to Darmstadt to "correct her," as he expressed him- 
self with much self-satisfaction. 

But Victoria Melita proved to him that English prin- 
cesses are made of sterner stuff than the German variety. 

"I will have none of your meddling," said the bride 
of two years. 

"I came here to make peace between you people." 

"Play the dove to your daughter-in-law," quoth the 
Grand-duchess. "I hear you are fighting like Kilkenny 
cats." 

"You are impertinent, Madame," cried George furi- 
ously. 

"You will oblige me by showing this man the door," 
demanded Victoria Melita, addressing her husband. 

"Not until I have explained the situation," answered 
Ernest Ludwig quietly. "Listen, then, cousin! While I 
am by principle opposed to divorce, I won't force my wife 
to live with me." 

"And now be so kind as to withdraw," said Victoria 
Melita, opening the door for Prince George. Poor as I 
am, I would have given five thousand marks to have seen 
the meddling pest exit in that fashion, and I love Victoria 
Melita for the spirit she displayed, even if I don't approve 
of her liaisons, 

♦ ♦ * 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I53 

Dresden^ February lo, 1896. 

A mighty virtuous remark escaped me on the last 
page, and I almost feel like asking the Grand-duchess's 
pardon, for, whatever I am, I'm no hypocrite. Melita is 
said to have a lover; I have an admirer. Up to now I 
don't care a rap for him, but who knows ? 

It's Count Bielsk of the Roumanian Embassy. I can't 
remember whether he was ever introduced to me. Most 
probably he was, but I forgot. 

An elegant fellow — always looks as if he stepped out 
of a tailor's shop in Piccadilly. 

Every single night I go to the theatre the Count occu- 
pies an orchestra chair that affords the best possible view 
of the royal box. It happened too often and too persist- 
ently to be accidental. Moreover, I observe that he pays 
no attention to the play. He has eyes for me only. 

Impertinence? Decidedly, but I can't be angry with 
the fellow. On the contrary, I am flattered, and the kind 
face and the fine eyes he's got! 

Poor stupid Tisch doesn't approve of the theatre, of 
course, and usually begs to be excused on the plea of re- 
ligious duties. "What a sinner you must be," I sometimes 
say, "when you are obliged to forever bother God with 
prayers." 

The Schoenberg I send into the next box, for she is 
no spy and never watches me. But if I must take Tisch, I 



154 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

always command her to sit behind me. Etiquette forbids 
her the front of the box and from the rear she can see 
only the stage. 

What fun to carry on a flirtation right under the nose 
of that acrid-hearted, snivelling bigot, who would mort- 
gage part of the eternal bliss she promises herself for a 
chance to catch me at it! 

Am I flirting, then? 

To spite the Tisch I would plant horns on the very 

Kaiser. 

* * * 

April I, 1896. 

The Duke of Saxony is dead — the man who at one 
time offered violence to His Majesty. Bernhardt was mis- 
taken; he left a wife and three children. Of course, no 
recognized wife. Just the woman he married. Unless you 
are of the blood-royal, you won't see the difference, but 
that is no concern of mine. 

Novels and story books have a good deal to say on 
the subject of inheritance-fights among the lowly. Greed, 
hard-heartedness, close-fistedness, treachery, cheating all 
around! See what will happen to the Duke's widow and 
her little ones. 

According to the house laws, a regular pirate's code, 
his late Highnesses fortune reverts to the family treasury. 
Prince Johann George will derive the revenues from the 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 1 55 

real estate the Duke owned privately. He is already rich, — 
sufficient reason for his wanting more. I shudder when 
I think what they will do to the woman the Duke married. 

The most notable thing about the funeral was the 
^'calling down" Prince Bernhardt got. 

"You will go to my valet and ask him to lend you one 
of my helmets. Yours is not the regulation form, I see," 
said the King to him in the voice of a drill-sergeant. And 
Bernhardt had to take to his heels like a school-boy caught 
stealing apples. 

I had to laugh when I observed the meeting between 
my erstwhile admirer, the Prince of Bulgaria, and His 
Majesty. 

Ferdinand's broad chest was ablaze with orders and 
decorations, but his valet had forgotten to pin onto him 
the Cross of the Rautenkrone, the Royal Saxe House deco- 
ration. There were plenty of others, but the King had eyes 
only for the one not dangling from a green ribbon. Con- 
sequently, Ferdinand, though a sovereign Prince, got only 
one "How art thouf" If we were living in the eighteenth, 
instead of the nineteenth, century, his valet's neglect would 
constitute a prime cause for war between the two countries. 



r 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

melita's love affairs and mine 

The Grand Duchess tells me how she cudgeled George — Living 
dictaphone employed — Shows him who is mistress of the 
house — Snaps fingers in Prince George's face — Debate about 
titles — "A sexless thing of a husband" — Conference between 
lover and husband — Grand Duke doesn't object to his wife's 
lover, but lover objects to *'his paramour being married." 

Dresden^ April 15, 1896. 

Melita conducted herself at the funeral and in our 
palace as unconcernedly as if she and George were fast 
friends. She smiled every time she saw him, and he cut 
her dead to his heart's content. During the three days' 
stay of the Hesses, I had many a good talk and many a 
good laugh with Melita, and now I got a true and un- 
abridged record of what happened at Darmstadt during 
George's meddling visit there. 

The Grand-duchess, who can be as catty as they make 
'em, had her secretary sit behind a screen to take steno- 
graphic notes. 

Saxon kings and princes always roar and belloW when, 
in conversation or otherwise, things go against their "all- 
highest" grain. As soon as George felt that he was losing 

157 



158 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

ground, he began to bark and yell, whereupon Melita in- 
terrupted him by saying, "I beg you to take notice that you 
are in my house." 

George grew so red in the face, Melita hoped for an 
apoplectic fit. But after a few seconds he managed to 
blurt out: "It's your husband's house." 

"While I am Grand-duchess of Hesse it's my house, 
too. Moreover, this is my room and I forbid you to play 
the ruffian here." 

Prince George looked at the Grand-duke, but Ernest 
Ludwig said nothing. 

"I am here as the King's representative. I represent 
the chief of the Royal House of Saxony." 

"A fig for your Royal House of Saxony," said Melita, 
snapping her fingers in George's face. "Queen Victoria is 
my chief of family, and, that aside, Ludwig and I are sov- 
ereigns in Hesse and have no intention whatever to allow 
anyone " 

"Anyone?" repeated George aghast. "You refer to me 
as anyone?" 

"In things matrimonial," said Melita, "only husband 
and wife count; all others are 'anyone.' You, too." 

"She calls me 'y^u,' " cried George, white with rage, 
looking helplessly at Ernest Ludwig. When the latter kept 
his tongue and temper, George addressed himself to Melita 
once more. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I59 

"I want you to understand that my title is Royal 
Highness." 

"And I want you to understand that I am Her Royal 
Highness the Grand-duchess of Hesse, Royal Princess of 
Great Britain and Ireland, Duchess of Saxony," cried Me- 
lita, stamping her foot. 

With that she went to the door, opened it and said, 

**I request Your Royal Highness to leave my house this 

very second." 

And George went. 

♦ * * 

Dresden^ June i, 1896. 

Poor virtuous me, to chide myself, and call myself 
names for flirting with Count Bielsk — at a distance of 
twenty feet or more! "I could kick my back," as the Due 
de Richelieu — not the Cardinal, but the lover of the Regent's 
daughters and "every wife's husband" — used to say (only 
a bit more grossly) when I think what I miss in this dead- 
alive Dresden. 

Darmstadt isn't half as big a town, and the Hesse 
establishment doesn't compare with ours in magnitude, but 
what fun Melita is having! 

Of course, it isn't all fun, for her husband is a "sexless" 
thing, and, like the Grand-duchess Serge of Russia, she 
would be a virgin, though married for years, if it wasn't 
for the other. 



l60 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"The other" is none other but Kyril, the lover of our 
Dolores, — Kyril isn't exactly pining away when separated 
from Melita. 

Well, Melita wants him all to herself. She wants a 
divorce. The complacent husband, who is no husband at 
all, doesn't suit her. Exit Ernest Ludwig — ofEcially. Enter 
Kyril — legitimately. 

She made me reams of confidences, indulged in whole 
brochures of dissertations on the question of sex. What 
an ignoramus I am ! I didn't understand half she said and 
was ashamed to ask. 

Ernest Ludwig is the most accommodating of hus- 
bands. Knows all about Kyril and would gladly shut both 
eyes if they let him. Melita might, if pressed very hard, 
for adultery has no terrors for her, but Kyril affects the 
idealist. Sure sign that he really loves her. If he was 
mine, I would be afraid of this Kyril. No doubt he is 
jealous as a Turk. 

Last week the three of them had a conference. Lovely 
to see husband, wife and paramour "in peaceful meeting 
assembled" and talk over the situation as if it concerned 
the Royal stud or something of the sort. 

No recriminations, no threats, no heroics; only when 
Ernest Ludwig submitted that divorce be avoided to save 
his face as a sovereign, Kyril got a bit excited. 

"This is not a question of politics," he said, "or what 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY l6l 

the dear public thinks. Your wife don't want you; as a 
matter of fact, she isn't your wife, and since we are in 
love with each other, we ought to marry." 

"Marry, marry, why always marry?" demanded the 
Grand-duke. "I acknowledge that I haven't the right to 
interfere in my wife's pleasure — I am not built that way. 
Well, I don't interfere. What more do you want? You 
don't deny that I am the chief person to be considered." 

"You?" mocked Kyril. "You with your sovereignty 
are not in it at all. If it wasn't for you, Melita and I 
could marry and say no more about it." 

"But I don't prevent your enjoyment of each other," 
pleaded the ruler of the Hessians. 

Now the idealistic Kyril got on his high horse. "Grand- 
duke," he said, "if you don't object to your wife having a 
lover, that's your business. For my part, I object to my 
paramour having a husband." 

And so on ad infinitum, and a goose like me abuses 
herself for a bit of goo-goo-eyeing. 



n 



CHAPTER XXXIV 

MORE ABOUT THE SWEET ROYAL FAMILY LIFE 

"Closed season" for petty meannesses — A prince who enjoys him- 
self like a pig — Why princes learn trades — A family dinner to 
the accompaniment of threats and smashing of table — The 
Duke's widow and children robbed of their inheritance by 
royal family — King confiscates testament. 

LoscHwiTZ, September 13, 1896. 

They are treating me like a laying hen. Expect an- 
other golden egg in December. Hence, "closed season" 
for imperious commands, "all-highest" orders and petty 
meannesses. 

When I learned that Bernhardt was in Dresden, I 
phoned him to come out and see me — without asking either 
royal, princely, or the Tisch's permission. 

A junior prince, without fortune or high protector, is 
really to be pitied. His title, the vague possibility that 
some day he may be called to the throne, stand between 
him and enjoyment of life as a man. Nothing left, but to 
enjoy himself like a pig. 

Bernhardt admits it. "They planted me in the God- 
forsakenest hole in the kingdom. If I saw a pretty woman 

163 



164 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

in my garrison from one year's end to the other, I would 
die of joy. And the newspaper scribblers wonder why we 
are all Oscar Wildes. 

"Just to kill time, I am learning the carpenter's trade 
— this Royal Highness, you must know, lives in a car- 
penter's house, as innocent of sanitary arrangements as a 
Bushman's hut. Of course, I run away every little while 
to Dresden, incog, to pay my respects to Venus. 

"Louise," he cried with comic emphasis, "may the three 
hours you steal from my girl, by way of this visit, be de- 
ducted from your eternal beatitude." 

I lent the poor fellow five hundred marks and he rushed 
back to Dresden. 

Tonight I told Frederick Augustus of my interview 
with Bernhardt, not mentioning the five hundred, of course. 

He laughed. "He's no worse than the rest of us used 
to be," he said. "I did exactly like him, and father and 
uncle and brothers and cousins, ditto. Behold — your 
husband-locksmith ! Max spent all his time reading 
the Lives of the Popes. That made him the dried- 
up mummy he is. But, believe me, I gave the girls many 
a treat. All the money I could beg, borrow or steal went 
for girls." 

Which explains Frederick Augustus's bedroom man- 
ners — sometime transplanted to the parlor. 

* * * 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 165 

Dresden, January i, 1897. 

I gave Saxony a third prince on December 9, and really 
I wasn't quite in condition to be scolded at today's family 
dinner. But since, with three boys growing up, the suc- 
cession is more than guarantee^, the season for insults is 
again open. 

His Majesty, our most gracious, sublime, etc., sov- 
ereign, sulks. Consequently the family looks glum, down 
in the mouth, utterly unhappy. 

Max gets up to make a speech and one could fairly 
see the lies wriggle out of his mouth full of defective teeth : 
exemplary family life; traditional friendship of all mem- 
bers for each other; perfect unity; the King and all 
the princes brave as lions; the Queen and all the princesses 
paragons of virtue. And the fatherly love with which the 
King embraces us all; his more than royal generosity; his 
mildness, his Christian virtues ! 

The Queen is a goose. Max's lying commonplaces 
make her forget her many years of misery spent at this 
court, and she grows as sentimental as a kitten. Fat Ma- 
thilda, Isabelle and Johann George applaud Max despite 
their better understanding, and now the King rises to make 
his usual New Year's address. 

The gist of his long-winded remarks is this: "I am 
the lord, your master, and I will see to it that you — wife, 
brother, nephews and nieces — will dance as I whistle. 



1 66 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

*Tor obedience to the King is the highest law/' he para- 
phrases Wilhelm, — "strictest, unconditional obedience" (and 
he gave me a poisoned look) "and let no one forget it, no 
one." With that he beat the table with his clenched fist, and 
the whole assemblage turns an accusing eye on me. 



Dresden, April 6, 1897. 

They have driven the late Duke of Saxony's wife and 
children from house and home — put her on the high-road, 
piling her personal belongings, trunks, wardrobe and knick- 
knacks outside, too. 

She arrived in Dresden and sought refuge with her 
widowed mother. Her father, a Court-Councillor, dismissed 
because of the relations between the Duke and his daugh- 
ter, died of grief and mortification, almost penniless. And 
the Ducal widow is as poor as the mother— and three chil- 
dren to bring up ! Children of the royal blood of Saxony, 
children sanctioned by the Church of which they prate so 
much, for there is no doubt that the pair married in 
secret. 

The late Highness kept all his papers in a strong-box, 
and it's said the King's representative, who searched the 
safe by Royal orders, found neither acknowledgment of 
the marriage, nor a last will in favor of the widow and 
children. Hence, all the Duke's belongings revert to the 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 167 

royal family, and the estate he lived on goes to his next 
of kin, Johann George. 

Johann George, who has more money than he knows 
what to do with, promptly sent the bailiff after his cousin's 
wife and children. 

"Noblesse oblige, — the way you interpret the old saying, 
will advance the cause of monarchy immensely," I said to 
the official heir. 

"Is it any business of mine to support my relatives' 
mistresses?'* I saw he was mad clean through. 

"You know very well that she was his wife.'' 

"There is apparently no official record of the marriage." 

"Maybe not in Dresden, as the nuptials were solemnized 
abroad. But what about the testament?" 

Johann George grew very red in the face. "If there 
is one, the King must have confiscated it. That often hap- 
pens in royal houses." 

"And you mean to say that, with all your riches, you 
are' heartless enough and contemptible enough " 

**Take a care, Your Imperial Highness. The Duke's 
strumpet was today indicted for lese majeste in connection 
with the testament matter." This junior prince dared to 
speak thus to me, the Crown Princess. 

"Johann George," I cried, "forget not that sooner or 
later I will be at the head of the royal family of Saxony. 
I forbid you to introduce your mess-room jargon into my 



l68 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

parlor; at the same time I am sincerely sorry that a Prince 
of Saxony should stoop to buy cigarettes and gasoline with 
the pittance stolen from his cousin's widow and her three 
little children." 

I went to the door and told the lackey on duty to fetch 
his Royal Highnesses carriage. 



CHAPTER XXXV 

FLIRTATION DEVELOPS INTO LOVE 

At the theatre — My adorer must have felt my presence — Forgot 
his diplomacy — The mute salute — His good looks — His mouth 
a promise of a thousand sweet kisses — Our love won't be 
any painted business. 

Dresden, April 6, Night, 1897. 

The talk with Johann George had excited me so, I 
wanted a diversion. Frederick Augustus sent word that he 
wouldn't be home for dinner. Hence, I decided to go to 
the theatre after an absence of months. It was after six 
when I telephoned that I would occupy my box at the 
Royal Opera. H I should see Him there, in the absence 
of announcements in the newspapers ! 

He was there. In his usual seat. I won't rest until 
I find out how he manages to get wind of my theatrical 
ventures at such short notice. The Opera, Faust, had been 
in progress for ten minutes when I arrived. I espied him 
at once, but kept well behind the curtains of the box for a 
second or two. Then, suddenly, I dropped into the gilded 
armchair and the very same moment our eyes met. 

I am sure he expected tne; he must have known I was 
169 



170 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

near when I entered the house. To his ears the hundred 
and one melodies of Gounod's masterpiece were naught 
compared with the music of my silken skirts. 

He was so overcome, he forgot his diplomacy. Twice 
he pressed his right hand to his heart, then bowed his head 
in a mute salute. 

Fortunately the house was dark at the time and the 
audience, unacquainted with my visit, paid strict atten- 
tion to the stage. No one but him saw my heart leap 
within me and the blood mount to my cheeks. Presently 
his diplomatic tact got the upper hand again, and he fixed 
his eyes on the score. That afforded me the chance to 
take a pictorial inventory of my lover-at-a-distance. I used 
my opera-glasses unmercifully. 

He's a fine looking man — if he were a woman he would 
be hailed a beauty. His forehead is a dream of loveliness; 
his mouth a promise of a thousand sweet kisses. 

If this man wants me, I mean if he wants me badly, 
our love won't be any painted business, I assure you. 

* * * 

Dresden^ April 25, 1897. 
Ball at the Roumanian Embassy. Royal command to 
attend. 

As if it needed a command to throw me into the arms 

of Bielsk. 

• * * 



CHAPTER XXXVI 

COUNT BIELSK MAKES LOVE TO THE CROWN PRINCESS 

Fearless to indiscretion — He "thou's7 me — Puts all his chances 
on one card — Proposes a rendezvous — Shall I go or shall I 
not go? — Peril if I go and peril if I don't. 

Dresden, April 26, 1897. Night 

We went to the ball as His Majesty's representatives, 
Frederick Augustus and I, and were obliged to say a few 
nothingnesses to a hundred paltry persons or more. When 
the Ambassador introduced Count Bielsk, I said in the most 
careless voice of the world, "I hear you love the theatre. 
Count." 

"I don't care a rap for the theatre," he replied. "I 
go to opera and operetta simply to see you. Imperial High- 
ness." 

Such audacity ! And he spoke quite loud. 

Frightened, I turned to the next person presented, say- 
ing something imbecile, no doubt. 

Later I withdrew upon the dais to watch the dancing, 
and at a moment when I was quite alone, he came up to 
me, making it appear as if I had commanded his attendance. 

"I have much to say to Your Imperial Highness." 
171 



172 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

I didn't have my wits about me and didn't know how 
to act. He repeated twice or oftener: "Pray, Your Impe- 
rial Highness, I have something to say to you,'' until, at 
last, I threw etiquette to the winds and asked : 

"Why should you wish to talk to me in private. Count?" 
No royal woman indulging in lovers ever encouraged a 
rogue more carelessly. 

"Because my life and happiness depend on what I have 
to say to you." 

And, weaker still, I assented by the tone of my voice 
rather than words: "You make me curious. Count. What- 
ever you have to say, say it now." 

He raised his eyes to me, with a soul and reputation- 
destroying look. "Thanks !" Then wildly, clamorously : 
"Louise, I love you." 

Instinctively I thought of flight, but his eyes wouldn't 
let me rise. From that moment on he dropped my title. 

"Stay," he whispered, "I beseech you, stay. Don't 
you see that I love you to distraction? I have kept silent 
these many months. Now I must talk. I love thee, 
Louise." 

I tried in vain to collect my thoughts while his love talk 
fanned my blood. Finally I managed to say: "Can't you 
see that you are playing va hanquef" 

"I know, but it doesn't interest me. Let my career 
be wrecked, I care not; I've got only one thought in the 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I73 

world — thee, only one wish — thee. And I must either love 
thee or die." 

I turned my eyes away and rose abruptly. As he bowed 
to kiss my hand, he whispered, still "thou'ing" me: "I ex- 
pect you tomorrow at the end of the Grand Boulevard. 
Come when you please. I will wait all day." 



And here I am thinking, thinking, thinking. 

"The end of the Boulevard'' is the beginning of Dres- 
den's Bois, Does this madman really suppose that Her 
Imperial Highness, the Crown Princess of this kingdom, 
will lower herself and respond to his demand for a ren- 
dezvous ? 

Yet, how he must love me to risk saying what he did 
say to me. He is no ill-balanced youth; he is a man of 
ripe judgment. His passion got the better of him. 

I adore passion. 

I must go no more to the theatre. Impossible for me 
to see him nightly. 

But it's a fine thing to be loved as I am. The most 
beautiful thing in the wide, wide world! 



Dresden, April 2y, 1897. In the Morning. 
He is waiting. Doubtless he expects me. What a 



174 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

persuasive thing love is, to be sure ! Because he loves me, 
he argues that the Crown Princess, the wife and mother, 
will rush to meet him, fall into his arms. 

Of course, he will be most unhappy if I don't go, for 
I am sure he is not your ordinary "petticoat-chaser." He 
will suffer, he is suffering now while I sit here quietly. 

Am I quiet? If I weren't determined to stay at home, 
I would half-admit to myself that my soul is obsessed with 
longing for this man. 

A diplomat, who has seen much of court life, assumes 
that a woman in my position is at liberty to keep rendez- 
vous ! Let's reason it out. 

To begin with, Lucretia has to be won over. That's 
easy enough, but the coachman and lackey! They must be 
told that Her Imperial Highness is graciously pleased to 
walk in the Bois, the carriage waiting at the end of the 
Grand Boulevard. 



After Luncheon. 

I ought to have said to him, I won't come. It's cruel 
to let him wait on a street corner and not even send notice, 
and to tip him off is impossible. 

And come to think of it, if Lucretia and I were prome- 
nading in the Bois and met the Count by accident, where's 
the harm? And if I don't go — Good Lord, he might kill 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I75 

himself. He is desperate enough for that. And he might 
leave letters compromising me. 

I will go to give him a piece of my mind. I will be 
very harsh with him, very adamant. 

And I will try to find out how he manages to select 
always the same theatre as I. 



r 



_ 



CHAPTER XXXVII 

RAPID LOVE MAKING IN THE BOIS 

A discreet maid — "Remove thy glove" — Kisses of passion, pure 
kisses, powerful kisses — I see my lover daily — Countess 
Baranello offers "doves' nest" — Driving to rendezvous in 
state — "Naughty Louise," who makes fun of George. 

Dresden, June i, 1897. 

A month of untold happiness. I went to the ,Bois and 
I am going there every afternoon. 

He was splendid; he was modest, quiet. He seemed 
to exude happiness. 

Lucretia is discretion itself. She kept behind us, but 
out of ear-shot. 

"I came to tell you that you acted like a madman last 
night, and that the offense must not be repeated," I said 
sternly to Bielsk. 

"I am a madman — in love," he replied, looking at me 
with big, soulful eyes. 

I chattered a lot of nonsense, prohibitions, commands, 
entreaties. 

"Remove thy glove," he begged. 

"You mustn't 'thou' me." 

"Remove thy glove," he repeated. 

177 



178 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Why I complied, I don't know, but I ripped off my 
glove, and he held my hand in both his hands and kissed 
it and kissed it. 

"What right have you got to treat me like a woman 
unmindful of her duties?" 

"I know that thou art lonesome, forlorn, Louise." 

He struck at my heart as he spoke these words, and 
my eyes filled with tears. He pressed his warm, pulsating 
lips on the palm of my hand, covering it from wrist to 
finger-tips with wild kisses. 

We were standing among the trees, and Lucretia, at a 
little distance, was plucking flowers. The remnant of com- 
mon sense I mustered told me: "He is dishonoring you, 
repulse him," but his "I love thee, Louise," rang like 
music in my ears. However, I tore myself free at last. 
"Farewell, we must never meet again." 

And then I lay in his arms, on his broad chest, and 
he covered my face with kisses, not passionate or insulting 
kisses. His lips touched lightly my eyes, my cheeks, my 
own lips — recompense for the long fast he had endured 
during all the months he had loved me at a distance. 

Marvelous kisses kissed this man, pure kisses, lovely 
kisses, powerful kisses. And I thought the whole world was 
falling to pieces around me and I didn't care as long as 
only he and I were living. He himself freed me. 

"Tomorrow," he whispered. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I79 

I awoke confused, ashamed of my weakness, trem- 
bling. 

"I'll never see you again. Never/' I said as if I 
meant it. 

"Tomorrow, love," he repeated. And I ran and joined 
Lucretia. 

When we were riding home I told Lucretia to draw the 
curtains, and fell upon her neck and told her all. 

The good soul was nearly frightened to death and we 
cried a good deal. 

* * J|c 

Dresden^ January 5, 1898. 

I neglected my diary, I neglect everything, for I'm in 
love. What care I for the King, Prince George and the 
rest who are trying to make life miserable for me? I 
laugh their pettinesses to scorn, for I have no other thought 
now but Romano Bielsk, no other interests. He is my all, 
my happiness. 

Of course, his ''Tomorrow, love'' prevailed and it has 
been ^'Tomorrow, love" ever since. On the day after our 
first meeting I actually thought I was warring against na- 
ture if I resisted his entreaties. It seemed to me that I 
had always known him, that we were predestined for each 
other. I still think so. 

Lucretia has a relative here, an aunt, member of the 
court set. Old Countess Baranello delights in intrigue and 



l80 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

— ^hates Prince George. When I told her of my affair, she 
placed her palace at our disposal, saying: 

"Bielsk shall have a key to the garden gate and to the 
pavilion inside the walls, which connects, through a sub- 
terranean passage, with my sun-parlor. You can meet your 
love there any time. I will see to it that none of the serv- 
ants or workmen disturb you." 

A capital arrangement, worthy of an old lady who has 
seen many gallant days ! There can be no possible objec- 
tion to my visits at her palace, and the grounds to which 
Romano has the entree fronts on a street unfrequented by 
society or carriages. 

I descend from my carriage at the palace gate; a knot 
of people, a small crowd, perhaps, collects to salute me and 
gape at the horses and livery. I sweep up the stoop, lined 
by my own, and the Countess's, servants. The bronze doors 
open. The Countess advances with stately curtsy; a few 
words sub rosa, and I — fly into the arms of love, while 
faithful Lucretia mounts guard at the street side, and Her 
Ladyship's spy glasses cover the garden; — needless precau- 
tions, but 

It's rare fun, and, after all, where's the harm? 

I made good as propagatrix of the royal race, and a 
union of soul such as exists between me and Romano never 
entered into my relations with Frederick Augustus. 

Romano is very intelligent. I can learn from him; 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY l8l 

Frederick Augustus taught me only coarseness, and if it 
came high, double entendres. Yet my lover is only a Coun- 
cillor of Legation ! Because his superiors, fearing his 
adroitness, keep him down. 

My children! Have I ever been allowed to be a real 
mother to them? The King, the nation, owns my little 
ones. I see them at stated intervals for half an hour or so, 
and romp with them as I do with my dogs. 

Still, I don't altogether approve of Louise, malicious 
girl! When I am at the top-gallant of my happiness I 
sometimes say to myself : "Oh, if only George could see 
me now !'' 

Naughty Louise — it's unworthy of thee. What do I 
care for George, what do I care for the world? 



CHAPTER XXXVIII 

"in love there are no princesses, only women'^ 

A diplomatic trick — Jealous of Romano's past — The pact for life 
and the talisman — If there were a theatre fire the talisman 
would discover our love to the King — Some ill-natured re- 
flections — Bernhardt's escapades cover up my tracks — The 
"black sheep" jumps his horse over a coffin — King gives him 
a beating — Bernhardt's mess-room lingo — Anecdotes of royal 
voluptuaries — Forces animals to devour each other — Naked 
ballet-girls as horses — Abnormals rule the world. 

Dresden, May 20, 1898. 

Romano learned about my theatre going by a diplomatic 
trick. He told one of the minor attaches of the Embassy 
that he had orders to watch me — "all-highest command." 
The official, consequently, negotiated with the box offices 
of all the theatres to phone him the moment Her Imperial 
Highness ordered seats. 

I am crazy to know how many women Romano loved 
in the twenty or more years since he grew to man's estate, 
and how many he seduced. It agitates and pains me to 
think of it, but all my questions are barren of results. 

Yesterday I asked him whether he ever knew a Prin- 
cess of the Blood before me — "knew" in the biblical sense. 

183 



184 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"In love," he said, "there are no princesses, there are 
women only/' 

He saw that I was hurt and added quickly: "Now 
don^t be unreasonable, Louise — no prejudices. With the 
thought in my mind that you are an Imperial Highness, or 
that you consider yourself of better clay than I, I couldn't 
love you as I do." 

♦ * * 

Dresden^ July i, 1898. 

We made a life-pact. Romano cut a gold piece in two 
and bored a hole in each half. He drew thin gold chains 
through the holes, gave me one of the amulets, and 
kept the other. Our combined monograms were already 
engraved on the bits of gold en miniature. Each swore to 
wear the talisman on the naked body for life, but we ex- 
change amulets daily, or as often as we meet. 

When I am enthroned in the royal box and look down 
upon my lover below, I think all the time of this, our secret 
understanding, and it sometimes occurs to me, that the 
opera house might get on fire and both of us perish. 

Next day our bodies would be found. In or near the 
royal box, that of a woman, burned so as to be unrecogniza- 
ble at first. ("We are all of the same clay," says Romano.) 

And down in the orchestra floor they would find Ro- 
mano's body, likewise unrecognizable. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 185 

And on my charred breast they would find the half of 
a twenty-mark piece. And on his charred chest they would 
find the half of a twenty-mark piece. 

And they would put the two together and discover 
that they match. 

Consternation, speculation ! 

Someone suggests that the mysterious gold pieces be 
photographed for publication and the engraver who made 
the monogram, and the jeweler who sold the two chains 
come forward as witnesses. 

Meanwhile the identity of my body is established. That 
of Romano's follows. Scandalum magnatum! But what 
are you going to do about it. Messieurs? 

If you had only known it a week ago! A prison a la 
Princess Ahlden, or the Danish Queen Caroline Matilda, 
for me, disgraceful dismissal for Romano, for times are 
happily past when comely gentlemen, who have the wit 
to amuse royal ladies, durst be murdered in cold blood 
like Koenigsmarck, or be-handed, be-headed and cut into 
ninety-nine pieces as Struensee was in Copenhagen market- 
square. 

What are you going to do about it. King, George, 
Frederick Augustus? 

I'll tell you. You will bury me with the pomp of 
kings ; and your sycophants will print beautiful stories about 
me, asserting that I died trying to fescue others, or did 



l86 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

something of the sort; and your Court Chaplains will weep 
and pray and lie for me. And the tip of Queen Carola's 
nose will be redder than ever. 



Dresden, September i, 1898. 

My young friend Bernhardt is doing me a great service 
and himself a lot of harm. 

A good-natured, tractable boy au fond, they made him 
a poltroon and worse by their persecutions, their meanness, 
their petty tyranny. He is proud, and they sent him to 
reside on a village manure heap; he is ambitious, and must 
drill raw recruits from morn till night; he is eager to learn 
and they try to embalm his intellect with tracts and kill 
his initiative by the endless, watery ennui of tu-penny 
environment. 

Of course, he gets desperate and kicks over the traces, 
and while attracting the dear family's disapproving atten- 
tion, I am more free than ever to devote myself to my 
Romano. 

Bernhardt's "latest" is really inexcusable. "I wonder 
we don't turn tigers with the education we receive," said 
one of the brothers of Louis XVI when upbraided for 
thoughtlessness and lack of consideration for the feelings 
of others — but Bernhardt seems to qualify for a vulture, and 
no original one at that, for a like offense as he is charged 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 187 

with was, several years ago, laid at the door of my cousin, 
Arch-duke Otho of Austria. 

Observe half a dozen young officers riding horse-back 
in the neighborhood of their garrison town, Bernhardt at 
the head. At a bend in the road, a rural funeral cortege 
hoves into sight: coffin borne on the shoulders of half a 
dozen peasants; weeping relatives; friends promising them- 
selves a good time at the widow's expense on returning 
home. A black cross lifted high; priest and choir-boys in 
their robes. 

"Halt,'' thunders Bernhardt, blocking the way. 

The priest tries to expostulate with the half-drunken 
fellow. 

"Shut up, black-coat. I am His Royal Highness, Prince 
Bernhardt." 

Then — the devil must be riding him — ^he orders the 
coffin put down on the ground. 

"Out of the way, yokels." 

And he leaps his horse three or four times across the 
coffin. 

The outrage is duly reported in the newspapers and 
Bernhardt is summoned before the King. "Don't you dare 
to appear in uniform," Albert added in his own hand. 

"What has happened?" I asked the ne'er-do-well, when 
he begged for an audience after meeting the King. 

He pointed to a swollen cheek. 



l88 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"He hit me three times in the eats" (I beg the Diary's 
pardon for the language; I report literally.) "Three 
times," repeated Bernhardt, "that's the reason he wanted me 
to appear in mufti. As I went out one of the lackeys said: 
'I never heard His Majesty rave so.' " 

"But why did you make a beast of yourself?" I asked. 

"To force the King to transfer me to another gar- 
rison, of course. I can't remain where I am, for the peo- 
ple are terribly incensed against me." 

"Did you tell His Majesty?" 

"Not on your life," answered Bernhardt. "If I did, 
I would have to stay there until my last tooth falls out. As 
things are, the Colonel will insist upon my speedy trans- 
ference, and that's v/orth the three slams on the face I got 
in addition to the various Lausbubs" 

"He called you, an army officer, a 'Lausbubf Where is 
his vaunted respect for the uniform?" 

"Didn't he hit me in the eats?" lamented Bernhardt 
tragically in his terrible lingo. "I responded both to insult 
and injury by knocking my heels together and saying: 
*At Your Majesty's commands.' " 

Of course, I told Romano. "Royalty," he said, "has 
only, on the face of it, advanced beyond the pirate and 
robber-baron period. Au fond all princes and kings would 
be criminals if they happened not to be crowned heads." 

He told me of a Balkan prince — young Alexander of 



/ 




\\ 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 189 

Servia, the same mamma Natalie intended for my consort 
— whose chief amusement consists in having mice and 
rats chased by ferocious tom-cats in a big cage made for 
that purpose. Once, growing tired of that sport, he incar- 
cerated ten tom-cats in the same cage without food many 
days in succession, visiting the prison hourly to see whether 
they wouldn't take to devouring each other. 

When, in the end, they did, tearing one another to 
pieces, His Majesty danced around the cage in high glee, 
pronouncing the battle of the poor beasts a bully spectacle. 

"You visited Castle Sibyllenort a week ago," continued 
Romano — "a most proper place, this royal residence, is it 
not? You ought to have seen it before your puritan King 
inherited it, ten years ago, upon the death of the last Duke 
of Brunswick. At that time it was a veritable museum 
of pornography, the apotheosis of Paphian voluptuousness. 
The palace, which has over four hundred rooms and halls 
— not one which a decent woman might enter without a 
blush — acquired its equipment as a lupanar and its reputa- 
tion for debauchery under the famous, or notorious, *Dia- 
mond Duke,' a brother of the Highness who left the estate 
to King Albert. Both Dukes held high carnival in its gilded 
halls, but he of the diamonds rather outdid William in out- 
raging decency. 

"One of his chief amusements was to hire a drove of 
ballet girls for parlor horses. He had a carriage con- 



igO THE STORY OF LOUISE 

structed no bigger or heavier than a Japanese jinrickshaw, 
and to this hitched ten or twenty ballet girls in their birth- 
day suits, walking on all fours, himself rider and driver. 

"Gracious — how he lashed his treble and quadruple 
teams of human flesh as they pulled him from room to 
room, and his was no make-belief ferocity, either. He was 
a niggardly rake, but in order to indulge his Sadist ten- 
dencies, agreed to pay one Thaler (Seventy-five cents) for 
every drop of blood shed by the girls. 

"To make the count easier, white linen sheets were 
spread over the carpets, and the sum total was paid over 
to the two-legged horses after each entertainment, the girls 
showing the sorest stripes or wounds getting the larger 
share.'* 

Romano, who lived at half a dozen courts and is primed 
with the scandalous gossip of them all, could certainly write 
an entertaining book on the fallacies and vices of the 
world's Great. 

It's most indelicate, to be sure, but I laughed long and 
hard over the sexual specialty of my uncle, Archduke Karl 
Ludwig, who is bad, anyhow, as everybody knows. 

One morning His Highness rose at an unusually early 
hour, even before the scrub-women made their exit. In 
the corridors, in the parlors, everywhere blonde and dark 
percherons, cleaning away for dear life and courting house- 
maid's knee ! 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I9I 

Karl Ludwig has no more use for women than the 
late Chevalier de Lorraine, the President of the Mignons, 
but the exaggerated protuberances he met so unexpectedly 
on all sides, appealed to his sense of humor, or some other 
sense which I would hate to name. Anyhow, he ran into 
the garden and cut himself a switch. And ever since then 
his chief amusement is to switch scrubbing percherons. If 
he succeeds in dealing one a blow unforeseen by lying in 
wait for her, or coming upon her all of a sudden, he is 
particularly satisfied with his day^s work and is liable to 
give a beggar a copper instead of the usual demi-copper. 

And of such abnormals the rulers of the world are 
recruited. 



CHAPTER XXXIX 



MY PUNISHMENT 



I lose my lover — Quarrels with me because I did my duty as a 
mother — Royalty extols me for the same reason — My pride 
of kingship aroused by Socialist scribblers — Change my opin- 
ion as to Duke's widow — Parents arrive — Father and his al- 
leged astrolatry — His finances disarranged by alimony pay- 
ments — My uncle, the Emperor, rebukes mother harshly for 
complaining of roue father. 

Dresden^ Christmas, 1898. 

God punished me for my sins. My children, one after 
the other, v^ere ill with scarlet fever, and the youngest is 
only now out of danger. Of course, I abandoned all my 
frivolities. I can say without boasting that the mother 
atoned for the short-comings of the wife and princess. 

Hence I thought justified to arrange for a right royal 
Christmas present: Romano. 

Lucretia went to see him. He received her coldly, 
hardly vouchsafed a word. From a secret drawer of his 
desk he took a letter, ready written, dated and gave it to 
Lucretia. "It explains," he said curtly, as he opened the 
door for her. 

He has abandoned me. Because I loved my children 
193 



194 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

better than him, because I am a mother first, Lais second, 
he throws away his Imperial iille de joie Uke a lemon sucked 
dry and prates of tendernesses and heavenly fancies that he 
alone feels, that are outside the pale of my understanding. 

He even refuses to thank me, this proud wooer of the 
royal bed. He "has given me the best that is in man to 
give to a woman,^' etc., etc. 

Be it so ! God desired to punish me and, because I 
loved much, he meted out to me mild chastisement. 

He stole my lover, but I have my children. 



Dresden, January 15, 1899. 

The King, Prince George, my brothers-in-law, my 
cousins and aunts are trying to make a hero of me. Be- 
cause I followed the inclinations of my heart and helped 
to save my children, there's no end of their praise and 
admiration. Did they take me for a raven? I am disgusted 
with so much unctuousness. 

Nevertheless I changed my mind about the Duke's 
widow. When I felt friendly towards her and quarrelled 
with Johann George for taking her money and with the 
King for embezzling the testament and offering accommo- 
dation at the poor-house for his kin's children, I thought it 
a family affair, but now that the Socialist papers meddle 
with the case, which concerns the royal house and the 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I95 

royal house alone, it's time for the Crown Princess to stand 
by her colors. 

Those Jews have actually the audacity to reprimand 
the King and the royal princes, to impute ignoble motives 
to us all ! They talk of us as if we were Messieurs and 
Mesdames Jones or Browns, trying to enrich ourselves at 
the expense of a corpse ! 

They call us "inheritance-chasers ;" "purloiners of pupil- 
lary funds,'' "starvers of innocent children." 

The Duke's kept-woman is "a lady of the highest char- 
acter" and we are not; her children are of the blood royal 
— only better for the dash of plebeian. 

It makes me boil to read such things; to see the rever- 
ence due the throne set aside, the royal banner dragged 
into the mire, and of course it's the kept-woman to whom 
we are indebted for this pretty kettle of fish. It is she 
who set the press against us, and it's me, Louise, who pro-, 
tests with all her might that her demands and petitions be 
denied. 

Let her starve with her brats. If she was sent to the 
poor-house she might make anarchists out of loyal paupers. 



Dresden, April i, 1899. 
My parents came to see the children and make merry 
because I am basking in the sun of royal grace. Mother 



196 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

has a new maid of honor, as ugly as the Tisch, and when 
we are entre nous every second word is: "when Louise is 
Queen." They know to a penny what our inheritance from 
the King, the Queen and Prince George will amount to and 
are forever making plans and specifications how to spend 
the money for the glory of Saxony and of our own family.* 

Mother's scare-crow of a maid of honor had at least 
sense enough to tell Lucretia of a few scandals that hap- 
pened at home, which mother never intended for my ears. 

It seems that papa, some few months ago, suddenly 
became possessed of the ambition to become an astronomer. 
Nothing would do, but he must buy a heap of instruments 
and set them up in a distant tower of Salzburg Castle. 
And there he spent all his evenings — star-gazing, he gave 
out. 

He seldom reached the nuptial couch before one or two 
in the morning, — utterly exhausted by the night's work. 

Well, mamma thought he labored too hard, and one 



* The fortune of the present King of Saxony (Louise's ex- 
husband) amounts to 25 million marks ($6,225,000) — no more 
than many an American parent paid for his daughter's seedy 
coronet. It will be remembered that Gladys Vanderbilt and 
Anna Gould brought to their husbands fifteen million dollars 
each, and the Castellanes and Szechenys are only nobles of the 
second class, their ancestors never having possessed ever so small 
a territory as sovereign lords. The bigger half of the Saxon 
King's fortune comes from the Brunswick inheritance already 
mentioned. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY I97 

forenoon when he had gone hunting, climbed up many 
stairs to investigate. Imagine her surprise when she found, 
in the astrolatry, a young lady in the act of getting out 
of bed, a girl, by the way, whom I used to know. 

Mamma had the mauvais genre to report the case to 
Emperor Francis Joseph, while papa sought another climate, 
remaining away until mother begged him on her bended 
knees, so to speak, to come home. Nor did she get satis- 
faction from Vienna. That great moral teacher, the 
Emperor, told her not to make a scare-crow of herself, but 
on the contrary make herself pretty and agreeable for, 
and to, her lord and master. , I understand now why mamma 
says: "All men stick together like gypsies." 

As a matter of fact father's limited resources are con- 
siderably affected by the various alimonies he has to pay to 
his own mistresses and those of my brothers. The third 
born of our boys, only a week ago, made too free with the 
■fiancee of the pastry-cook, who threatened to kill him. It 
cost father several thousand florins to appease the ruffian 
and Heinrich Ferdinand renewed acquaintance with moth- 
er's boxing proclivities. 



CHAPTER XL 



A PLEBEIAN LOVER 



In need of a friend — My physician offers his friendship — I dis- 
cover that he loves me, but he will never confess — I give 
him encouragement — We manage to persuade the King to 
further our intrigue — Not a bit repentant of my peccadilloes 
— Very submissive — Introduced to my lover's wife. 

Dresden^ in May, 1899. 

Privy Councillor von Barthels, my body physician^ is 
a very agreeable man. I have no use for his services, pro- 
fessional services at present, yet insist upon receiving him 
daily. Still I love him not. Only esteem him as a friend, 
I need a friend. Physicians can keep secrets, and I have 
many of them. I look upon Barthels as my Father-con- 
fessor. 

The tears came into his eyes when I told him, and he 
said: "Imperial Highness, this is the most beautiful hour 
of my life." 

He spoke with enthusiasm; there was fire in his eyes 
and in his voice, yet a moment later he was again the most 
reserved of men and conversation lagged. 

It happened three days ago. He has paid me four 
visits since and I notice with astonishment, with curi- 

199 



200 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

osity and with alarm, that this man is in love with me. 

How long has he loved me? 

His love is like a warm mantle 'round my shoulders 
on a chilly night. It exudes warmth, strength, beatitude, 
yet there is none of the animal. 

He is a good talker on a thousand and one subjects, 
a thinker and psychologist. Psychology is his strong point. 
He argues brilliantly on the subject, yet I need only look 
at him to upset his thesis, to make him stammer and redden. 

He's no Count Bielsk and will never tell me of his 
own accord that he loves me. Is his admiration greater 
than his love ? Perhaps so. It gives me a feeling of security. 

Lucretia knows, but in the presence of the Tisch, he 
plays the servant, deeming himself thrice honored by being 
allowed to breathe the same air as her Imperial Highness. 



Dresden, June 15, 1899. 

I frequently drive to the Bois nowadays with the 
children, the Bois, where I was so happy with Him. 

Romano was right, a thousand times right, that he 
abandoned me when our love was at its zenith. 



At Midnight, 
It's done. 

Barthels came tonight. He was so feverish, so passion- 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 201 

ate, there was so much humble solicitation in his looks and 
manners, I was moved to pity. 

This man is too over-awed by my rank to ever permit 
himself to express his feelings by word of mouth. He 
talked of everything but love and was in the midst of a 
learned dissertation when I sunk my eyes in his and said: 

"Why do you try to hide things from me? Don't I 
know what's in your heart?" 

Like a little criminal — as my oldest boy does occasion- 
ally — he turned red, then white, then red again. He buried 
his face in his hands. He trembled. He seemed to be 
crying. I arose, and lightly laid my hand upon his blonde 
head. 

He's got the finest, silkiest hair in the world, shimmer- 
ing like beaten gold. 

And then he lay at my feet, covering them with kisses. 
And instantly all his force, his courage, his eloquence 
returned. 

He went away like a man a-dreaming. 

I long for him; I confess I long for him. Whether 
I love him or not I don't know. But that I know, I mill 
love him. 

And if I cannot, what matters it? I don't have to 
love to be happy. To be loved is enough. I want to be 
his Queen, his life. 



202 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Dresden, July i, 1899. 
Privy Councillor von Barthels told the King that my 
delicate condition needs constant watching. I go to his 
clinic every second day, while he visits me once or twice 
daily at the palace. 



Like Melita I am never a bit repentant of my pecca- 
dilloes. 

If I don't want to do a thing, neither Kaiser, King, 
George, Frederick Augustus, my parents, the Pope, nor 
the whole world, can make me. But if I resolve to follow 
my sweet inclinations, rueing and pining are out of question. 

Ferdinand is the most devoted of lovers. He has 
unlimited tendernesses — a new experience for me. 

The lover of my girlhood days overwhelmed me by 
audacity. The Shah used me like a show-girl. Romano 
was imperious, super-mannish. For him I was only the 
female of the species. 

Sometimes, in the midst of an embrace, Ferdinand 
suddenly seems to recollect that a Queen trembles in his 
arms; the master turns dme damnee, I am Sultana, Louise- 
Catherine. 

Like Catherine the Great, I would throw millions to 
my favorites and millions more when I dismissed one. 
At any rate, I would give each a hundred thousand marks 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 203 

"to furnish himself with linen and silks," — a mot invented 
by the Semiramis of the North. 



Dresden, July 5, 1899. 

No more clinic for me. Ferdinand begged so hard, 
that I allowed him to introduce his wife. She came in 
after we finished our "consultation," a little heap of mis- 
fortune, execrably dressed, frightened, almost dead with 
submissiveness. 

And I am robbing this poor creature; it's like stealing 
pennies from a child. And under her own roof. 

It must not be. I am going to the country. 



CHAPTER XLI 

AN ATROCIOUS ROYAL SCANDAL 

A royal couple that shall be nameless — The voluptuous Duchess 
— Her husband the worst of degenerates — "What monsters 
these royalties be" — Nameless outrages — A Duchess forced 
to have lovers — Ferdinand and I live like married folk — 
Duchess feared for her life — Her husband murdered her — I 
scold and humiliate my overbearing Grand Mistress — The 
medical report too horrible to contemplate. 

R. Jidy 15, 1899. 

I am afraid to date this entry. Another terrible indict- 
ment of royalty. And, as usual, things criminal are at 
the bottom of the abuse of sovereign power. 

The Duchess had a baby and asked me to be god- 
mother to the little girl. The King, eager to oblige his 
rich cousin, favored the journey. I insisted that Ferdinand 
accompany me. "Marie," I said, "hates Tisch, and she 
must, under no circumstances, be commanded to attend 
me." Lucretia would do. It would be cheaper. 

The King first w^ouldn't hear of Dr. von Barthels 
going. People might think I had some chronic disease. 
But he finally gave in for the sake of the child I expect. 
"We need a few princes more from you," said His Majesty 

205 



206 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

benignly. "When you got about a dozen boys, you can 
rest." Pleasant job, that of a Crown Princess. 



R, July i6, 1899. 

The Duchess is a pretty woman, her face a lovely 
oval. She has small eyes, the color of amethysts. Her 
complexion is as white and harmonious as if she washed 
in sow's milk, like the late Ninon. 

Her mouth is sweet, but certain lines indicate that it 
can bite as well as smile. She has abundant hair, the color 
of Ferdinand's. 

This dainty, albeit voluptuous, little person, is mated 
to a bull-necked He, pompous, broad and full of the conceit 
of the duodez satrap. 

Marie was forced to marry him; their honeymoon 
scarcely lasted a fortnight and he treated her shamefully 
after that. Of course, babies she must bear like any other 
"royal cow." 

Gradually, very gradually, she got over her disappoint- 
ment and shyness, developing into a cunning, world-wise 
woman. Then came the man she was bound to love, even 
as the violet is bound to be kissed by the sun. She had 
no scruples about accepting him, thinking herself entitled 
to compensation for the sorrows of her married life. And 
revenge is sweet. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 207 

The Duke found them out in the first month of their 
young love, walked into her boudoir one fine afternoon 
and remarked casually that none of his hats would fit him, 
— "on account of the horns you kindly planted on my 
forehead." 

Marie was more dead than alive when he asked her 
for the key of her writing desk. She lied and lied; to no 
purpose. 

He kicked open the writing desk, and with his iron 
fists broke the shelves and pigeon holes, laying bare a 
secret drawer and stacks of love letters it shielded. These 
he confiscated. Then locked himself into his room to enjoy 
his disgrace. This monster is a Masochist and Sadist 
combined. He loves both to inflict suffering upon himself 
and upon others. 

What monsters royalties be! 

In the meanwhile Marie experienced all the tortures 
of purgatory; she thought of flight, of suicide. Before 
she could indulge in either her husband was back: Othello 
in the last act. 

Marie was frightened stiff, her brain a whirl, her 
limbs inert. Rape most foul this crowned satyr committed. 
"He fell upon me as a pack of hounds overwhelm a hunted, 
wounded she-stag," she said. 

Afterwards he commanded her to describe minutely 
every detail of her relations with the other. He was 



208 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

primed with the letter-accounts; he made her dot her 
amorous I*s and cross her bawdry T's. And every attempt 
at omission he punished with kicks and cuffs; no dray- 
man or brick-layer could give a more expert exhibition of 
woman-beating ! And he violated her again. 

This was the beginning of a series of outrages of the 
same gross character. Marie suffered for years and years 
that His Royal Highness may gratify his unclean fancies: 
he the pander; she the Cyprian. 

"If I ceased having lovers, I think he would kill me," 
says Marie. 

Alas, such is the stuff "God's Anointed" are made of! 
In the face of such, we pronounce a hypocritical f accuse 
upon the Louis's and Pompadours, upon Marie Antoinette 
even. 

The Duchess, who knows, gave Ferdinand an apart- 
ment near my own. We are living here like man and 
wife. He sometimes calls me ''Frau Professor/' 



LoscHWiTZ, July 19, 1899. 
Marie is dead. "Died suddenly," said the telegram. 
I understand now why she begged me, with tears in her 
eyes, to remain at least two weeks. She was afraid that, 
though ill and suffering after the confinement, he would 
treat her as he did when he first found her unfaithful. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 209 

"Don't go/' she cried. "It will be my death." And 
when I showed her the King's letter commanding me to 
return at once, she made her confidential tire-woman swear 
on the Bible that she wouldn't leave her for a minute, 
day or night, until she herself released her from the 
promise. 

Private advices from r say His Highness 

brutally kicked the faithful maid out of his wife's bed- 
room and outraged his sick wife while the servant kept 
thundering at the door, denouncing her master a murderer. 

Ferdinand says the great majority of crowned heads 
are sexual voluptuaries, deserving of the penitentiary or 
the straight- jacket. 



LoscHWiTZ, August I, 1899. 

I caught the Tisch stealing one of my letters. Happily 
there was nothing incriminating in it, though addressed 
to Ferdinand, — just the letter the Crown Princess would 
write to a Privy Councillor. But the petty theft indicates 
that she suspects. Prince George, I am told, receives a 
report from her every few days. 

Well, I had my revenge. The Queen called today to 
see the children, and when Her Majesty and myself with- 
drew into my closet, the Tisch, who had been spying, 
didn't retire as promptly as she might. 



210 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"Can't you see that you are de trop/' I said sharply 
to her. 'Tlease close the door from outside." The 
Baroness gave a cry of dismay and the Queen was scan- 
dalized. 

"Xouise," she said, "that is no way to treat servants. 
You should always try to be kind and considerate with 
them." 

"I am, thanks. Your Majesty," I replied. "All the of- 
ficials and servants love me, but I have very good reasons for 
treating the Tisch as I do." 

Of course, George will hear of this, and the Tisch will 
be reprimanded by him as well. Spies that compromise 
themselves, compromise their masters. 

The same evening I said to the Tisch in the presence 
of the nurses : 

"My dear Baroness, I wish you would display a little 
more tact. Listen at my doors as much as you like, but 
whatever you do, don't spy on Her Majesty in rny house." 
She exuded a flood of tears and I sent her to her room. 
"Don't come back until you can show a pleasant face. I 
want to see none other around me." 



LoscHwiTZ, August 2, 1899. 

Ferdinand received a medical report from r. 

My first private advices regarding Marie's death were 



II 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 211 

correct, but the additional details given are too horrible 
to contemplate. 

The poor Duchess was brutally murdered. She died 
cursing her crowned murderer. 

The manner in which she was put to death can only be 
likened to that of the lover in Heinrich von Kleist's poet- 
ically sublime, but morally atrocious, tragedy, Penthesilcia, 
except that, in poor Marie's case, the woman suffered from 
the awful frenzy of the male, in whom the "gentlest pas- 
sion" degenerated in Saturnalia of revolting cruelty. The 
Duke killed Marie because doing so gave him the most 
damnable pleasure, — her the most excruciating pain. 

Yet the King's will is the highest law and criminals 
on thrones laugh at the criminal code. 



I 



CHAPTER XLII 

I LOSE ANOTHER OF MY LOVERS 

Happily no scandal — Rewarded for bearing children — $1250 — for 
becoming a mother — Royal poverty — Bernhardt, the black 
sheep, in hot water again — The King rebukes me for taking 
his part. 

LoscHWiTZ, August 10, 1899. 

Frederick Augustus sent for Ferdinand and gave him 
to understand that he had received divers anonymous letters, 
connecting my name with that of the Privy Councillor. 
"Of course I don't believe a word of it," said my husband, 
"but one in my position cannot afford to flout public opinion. 
It will be for the best, if you cease your services to Her 
Imperial Highness." 

Upon the same day Ferdinand received orders from 
the King to stop his visits. 

The Baroness's doings, of course, — pin-pricks when she 
would like to shoot with sharp cartridges. She evidently 
doesn't know the full extent of our intimacy. As to 
Ferdinand, he acted the coward, left my letters unanswered 
and didn't make the slightest attempt to continue relations 
that might possibly turn out to his disadvantage. 

213 



214 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

He is contemptible. My heart is unengaged, but my 
pride sadly humbled. 



Dresden^ February 15, 1900. 

The King sent me an emerald, one-twentieth the size 
of that given me by the Shah of Persia. Frederick Augus- 
tus did himself proud and, on his part, I gained a pearl 
necklace in acknowledgment of my renewed services to 
the state. Little Marguerite was born January 24. 

Frederick Augustus also gave me five thousand marks 
spending money. Not much for a multi-millionaire's wife 
or daughter, I reckon, but a terrible lot for an Imperial 
Highness. 

When I read of the sums the Vanderbilts, Astors, 
Goulds and other dollar-kings spend in Paris and London, 
and even with us in Dresden, I sometimes wish I could 
exchange places with an American Duchess or Countess 
long enough to buy all the things beautiful and pretty I 
would like to own. An awful thing is royal poverty, but 
the reputation of affluence and unlimited resources, stalk- 
ing ahead of us, whenever we enter a store or bargain 
with a jeweler, is worse. 

"Your Imperial Highness is pleased to joke," says my 
man-milliner, when I admit, unblushingly, that I haven't 
the wherewithal to buy the things I dote on. 



i 

i 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 21$ 

Wait till I am Queen, modistes, store-keepers, jewelers! 
The new Majesty will show you that she cares for money 
only to get rid of it. 



Dresden, February 20, 1900. 

This morning Lucretia came running to the nursery 
and whispered to me: "Imperial Highness, quick, to the 
boudoir. He begged so Jiard, I smuggled him in." 

She couldn't say more, for the Tisch was watching us. 
What new trouble was brewing? Could it be Romano, 
dare-devil, who had come back to me? 

If it was that poltroon, Ferdinand, I would have him 
thrown out by my lackeys. 

The mysterious visitor doffed wig and false moustache. 
"It's me," cried Bernhardt. "You are my only hope." 

"What have you been doing again?" 

"They threaten to banish my girl from the garrison 
and I won't stand for it. If they send her away or imprison 
her, I will kick up such a row, all Europe shall hear of it." 

"But why this masquerade?" 

"S-s-sh !" whispered the young prince. "I came with- 
out leave." Quickly, breathlessly, he continued: "I hear 
you are in His Majesty's good graces. Go and see him 
on my behalf. Persuade him to annul the order of banish- 
ment or render it ineffective." 



2l6 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"Bernhardt," I said, "why don't you marry?" 

"If I could get a girl like you, Louise, I would — today, 
tomorrow, but the royal scare-crows that will have penniless 
me, — much obliged ! You are a very exceptional woman," 
he added earnestly. 

We held a council of war, discussing the situation from 
every view-point, and finally I agreed to see Baumann. 

"I'll have to vouch for your future good conduct," I 
said. 

"On condition that they leave my girl alone." 

"Precisely. And on your part you give me your word 
of honor not to scandalize the people of your new garrison; 
to gradually break with the girl and, in the end, get married." 

"You are a brick, Louise," cried Bernhardt, and before 
I could shake him off, he was kissing me all over my face. 
No cousinly or brotherly kisses ! His lips were apart, there 
was passion in his embrace. I struggled, but his hand 
pressed against my back. What strength the rascal's got! 



Dresden^ February 21, 1900. 

The King is adamant. I no sooner mentioned Bern- 
hardt's name than his face froze. 

"Does your husband know about your interference for 
that rake?" 

When I answered in the negative, he praised Frederick 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 217 

Augustus for Strict submission to the royal will and up- 
braided me for "upholding Bernhardt in his wickedness." 

"The boy is desperate," I said. 

"If he is desperate," cried the King, "let him do the 
one reasonable and honorable thing: mend his evil ways. 
It will come easy if he seeks true strength in prayer, in 
fasting and religious discipline." 

"I submit to your Majesty that it might be well to send 
Bernhardt travelling." 

"On a tour of inspection of houses of ill-fame?" inter- 
rupted Albert coldly. "This is a mere waste of words," he 
added, looking towards the door, "and Fm sorry that 
Your Imperial Highness has the bad taste to take the part 
of this disobedient, immoral and altogether reprehensible 
Lmisbub/' 

That meant my dismissal. I shudder when I think of 
the consequences of the King's obstinacy. 



CHAPTER XLIII 

THE CROWN PRINCESS QUELLS A RIOT 

Asked to play the coward, and I refuse — A hostler who would 
die for a look from me — Hostler marriages in royal houses — 
Anecdotes and unknown facts concerning royal ladies and 
their offspring — Refuse police escort and rioters acclaim me 
— Whole royal family proud of my feat. 

Dresden^ July 3, 1900. 

Behold Louise, a political personage! 

I was driving with my little ones in the Bois yesterday 
afternoon. We occupied an open court carriage, conspicuous 
for livery and magnificent horse-flesh, for I love display 
and the children enjoy it. We were driving along leisurely 
enough when there was hasty clatter of hoofs and wheels 
behind. Presently a royal coupe dashed up alongside. 

The Tisch stuck her head out: 

"Imperial Highness — the town's in revolt. — Socialist 
riot. They are marching upon the palace. — For the love 
of God, return at once. Your Imperial Highness must take 
a seat in this inconspicuous carriage. We will change to 
the first Droschke we meet, going through side-streets." 

"My dear Baroness," I answered, "it's not in my nature 

219 



220 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

to shirk peril. If I were to be hanged and quartered and 
could avoid that unpleasantness by changing from my car- 
riage to a cab — I would be hanged and quartered. Take 
the children and return to the palace any way you like. 

"As for me, I'll go back as Her Imperial Highness, the 
Crown Princess of Saxony, and my coachman will drive 
slowly." 

I kissed the children, and the coupe rolled away at a 
sharp clip. 

CalHng the coachman by name, I commanded him: 
"You heard what my Grand Mistress said. Riot or no 
riot, I am solely responsible for my own safety. You will 
take orders from no one but me, neither from the mob nor 
the poHce." 

The coachman lifted his hat respectfully and bowed 
a submissive "At Your Imperial Highness's orders." The 
groom, a young, good-looking fellow, struck the broad- 
sword at his side. 

"There is some good steel in this, Your Imperial High- 
ness," he said with sparkling eyes. I believe this poor 
fellow would have died for a single look from me. 

Among royal servants, the most devoted are those con- 
nected with the MarstalL No wonder so many of my sisters 
born on the steps of the throne, fell in love with their 
Master of Horse or equerries ; some with mere hostlers, like 
Queen Christina of Spain, the mother of my aunt Isabelle, 



; 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 221 

of amorous memory. Her lover, Munoz, of the Body 
Guards, was a famous equestrian and two years younger 
than Christina. He managed horses so well, she thought 
it would be great fun to boss this giant. But it ended by 
the brute lording it over her, the "Catholic Majesty.'' By 
the way, I wonder what became of Christina's and Munoz's 
several children. While they lived together from 1833 to 
1844 without the sanction of either law or church, they 
were "regularly married" in the end, the hostler, Munoz, 
metamorphosing into Duke Rianzares. Yet the Almanack 
de Gotha knows not their progeny when, as "love children," 
they should live long and happily. 

Another "hostler-marriage" occurred in the family of 
the proud Kaiser, the contracting parties being Princess 
Albrecht of Prussia and a groom, whose name I forget. 
This Princess, Marianne of the Netherlands, brought the 
first "real" money into the Hohenzollern family, and her 
husband, Albrecht, was long regarded the Croesus among 
German princes. 

After the divorce, His Royal Highness forced the ex- 
wife to marry the hostler, and the bloom of forbidden love 
having worn off in the meantime, Marianne seldom passed 
a day without being soundly beaten by the plebeian. Maybe 
she liked it. Some women do. 

Today her offspring with Master Fisticuffs are sturdy 
farmers in Silesia, but two of the three sons she had with 



222 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

the royal Prince, as well as the sons the royal Prince had 
with his second wife, Rosalie von Ranch, are degenerates. 
Rosalie's sons are known as Counts Hohenau and the wife 
of the elder, Fritz, is giving my astute and pious cousin, 
the Kaiserin, considerable heart-ache. 

Curious, isn't it? The children of the "adulteress'' 
are successful men and women, aids in the progress of the 
world; those of the blood royal, in double or single doses, 
a menace to public morality. This much for your royal 
inbred custom. 

But back to Dresden. The order to drive slowly was 
soon rescinded, for I was burning to see a riot at close 
range. ''Plein carriere" I commanded, and my fast Carros- 
siers went at a tremendous rate for two miles. The moment 
I saw, in the distance, knots of people standing round or 
moving in the direction of the palace, I cried : "Schritt" 
and we proceeded as leisurely as if following a funeral. 

As we turned around a corner, a detachment of gen- 
darmes, sent to watch for me, hove into sight. Their com- 
manding officer signalled frantically to the coachman to stop, 
but George had his instructions and proceeded. 

The officer spurred his horse and rode up to me, ques- 
tioning me with his eyes. 

"My orders," I explained. 

"Then I must escort Your Imperial Highness." 

"Don't." 



I 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 223 

"Strict orders from my superior officer, Your Imperial 
Highness/' and the gendarmes formed a cordon around my 
carriage. 

I was furious. "Send for your commander." 

The captain of the gendarmes could not be found at 
once and joined my cavalcade only when we were opposite 
a living wall of excited people, nearly all of them workmen. 

"What is Your Imperial Highnesses pleasure?" asked 
the captain, bending down from his horse. 

"Send your men away instantly." 

"But the responsibility?" 

"Rests with me and with me only. Send them away. 
Every one of them." 

The mob was watching us. I read suspicion in the 
eyes of those nearest. The captain gave the sign and the 
troopers turned their horses' heads, saluting me with their 
drawn swords. 

"May I act as Your Imperial Highness's out-rider?" 
asked the captain in a low voice. 

"Don't trouble yourself. I command you." 

The groom had been watching us. I gave the signal 
and we proceeded at a pace. The rampart of human bodies 
swung open and lined the sides of the streets. Someone 
cried: "Three cheers for the Crown Princess," and every- 
one responded. 

These Socialists, whom I had been taught to hate and 



224 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

despise, behaved in exemplary style. When I dismissed 
their tyrants, the gendarmes, they immediately took me 
under their protection. I am sure anyone daring to insult 
me, or raise a hand against me, would have fared badly at 
the hands of his fellows. 

I was all smiles, bowing right and left. Labor 
agitators raised their hats to me, mothers offered their 
children that I might pat their little hand, or lay mine 
on their head — a veritable triumph ! 

When I drove into the palace yard, the Guards rushed 
out to do me honor. The Queen, the King and Prince 
George saluted me from the windows of their apartments. 

Frederick Augustus embraced me in front of every- 
body. In short I was made a hero of. 

I afterwards learned that as soon as the palace knew 
of the incipient riot, the King sent word to all members 
of the royal family, ordering them to stay in their apart- 
ments. They were even forbidden to show themselves at 
the windows overlooking the palace square. 

Learning that I had gone driving, mounted grooms 
were dispatched in all directions to intercept me. The 
Tisch, being responsible for the royal children, got the 
fastest team the court commands and started for the Bois. 

It gave me some satisfaction to observe that I arrived 
before her. Of course, I never doubted the children's 
safety. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 225 

The evening papers devoted columns to the little inci- 
dent and Prince George had the great sorrow to hear the 
King say: "A dare-devil, that Louise, but she did the right 
thing. By pretending confidence in the loyalty of the 
people, she successfully gulled them. The riot's back was 
broken when she showed a bold front." 



CHAPTER XLIV 

THE NEW LOVER, AND "l PLAY THE HUSSY FOR FAIR'' 

Who is that most exquisite Vortdnzerf — A lovely boy — "Blush, 
good white paper" — I long for Henry — My eyes reflect love — 
"I must see you tonight. Arrange with Lucretia" — Sorry 
I ever loved a man before Henry — Poetry even — I try to 
get him an office at court — Afraid women will steal him. 

PiLLNiTZ, September 5, 1900. 

Dance at the royal summer residence. Concentrated 
ennui as a rule, but a complete success this time. 

I have seen Him, — capital "H." He is the one man 
for me. 

I am happy; I am myself again. All sorrows are for- 
gotten. I am ten years younger. 

Love at first sight. I the aggressor. I must be getting 
very clever since I managed to hide it from hundreds of 
searching eyes, even from my entourage. 

"Lucretia," I whispered breathlessly to my confidante, 
"find out the name of the Vortdnzer, quick." 

The Vortdnzer, at royal courts, is a sort of official 
master of the dance, who sets the pace for the company, 

227 



228 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

combining the duties of master of ceremonies and of dancing 
master. 

The more I looked at the Vortdnzer, the more he 
enchanted me. Taller than any other man present, elegant, 
blonde, clean-shaven. Not an ounce of superfluous flesh, 
I judged. Might be the reincarnation of the Due de Riche- 
lieu, who seduced my three cousins d'Orleans. 

His face is livid with white and carmine tints; his 
eyes glow with an irresistible charm. That figure of his ! 
The elegance of the palm tree, both straight and flexible. 
And the infinity of grace as he waltzed that little Baroness 
around. 

"Baron Bergen, of the Guards," breathed Lucretia into 
my ear. 

"My Master of Ceremony will command Baron Bergen 
at the end of this dance." 

When he stood before me, bowing and smiling, the idea 
that he was Richelieu reincarnated became almost a cer- 
tainty with me. 

Like Richelieu, his face has the refinement that we 
admire in women (I forgot to say that I became infatu- 
ated with him merely from seeing a back view of the man. 
When he turned around, I was lost). 

While he chanted the usual compliments, my eyes hung 
upon his cherry lips, reveled in his white, strong teeth. 
The man I want. I say it without shame, without care. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 229 

Blush, good, white paper! I am giving an account 
of my feelings, and if they be impure, there's something 
wrong with nature. 

Even as I write, I tremble with longing, with desire 
for Henry. 

Ten days since we first met. It might have been this 
morning, so lively and overwhelming is the recollection. 
I am impatient for his kisses, for his blonde loveliness, 
for his whole self, — just as if we hadn't loved and kissed 
scarce an hour ago. 

"My horse, Lucretia. We'll go for a canter. I must 
have air and plenty of it." 



PiLLNiTZ, September lo, 1900. 

I must give some additional account of our first meet- 
ing at the court ball. Ah, I was the hussy for fair! He 
couldn't help seeing the impression he made upon me. My 
eyes must have reflected it in letters of flame. I wish he 
were as bold as the Due, who slept on a pillow stuffed 
with the hair of his mistresses, past and present. 

I never made such advances to any man. I was gone 
clean off my head. 

When he reddened and when his left hand, resting on 
the hilt of his sword, trembled, I became intoxicated. 

And I danced with him, and I was angry with myself 



230 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

for lacking the courage to say: "Feel my heart beat/' My 

great-great-aunt and name-sake, Marie Antoinette, did and 

won the love of her life, — Fersen. 

But we Hn de Steele women are cowards. All I said 

to him was: "I must see you tonight. Arrange with 

Lucretia." 

* * * 

Dresden^ September 30, 1900. 

Summer heat continues, but no country-seat for me! 
The town is a much safer place for lovers, and old Countess 
Baranello keeps open house for us all the year round. We 
meet daily. I persuaded Henry's colonel that the lieutenant 
would never be a courtier unless he saw more of court 
life and was relieved, to a certain extent, of duties on the 
drill ground. 

We see each other mornings or afternoons at the 

Countess's. The evenings we spend at the theatre together, 

I in the box, he in the fauteuil once sacred to Romano. 

Every Saturday afternoon we concoct the repertoire for 

the week following, and he goes at once to secure tickets 

for the various entertainments I intend to visit for his 

sake. 

* ♦ * 

Dresden, October i, 1900. 
I wish I had never loved any man before Henry. I 
wish he had known me as an innocent girl. I wish I wasn't 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 23 1 

royal. Then I could get a divorce and marry him, but 
now, if I got ten divorces, he would always be the insig- 
nificant Baron, I the Princess of the Blood. 

And I couldn't see my love humiliated ! 

As a talisman he wears on his chest a golden locket 
with my miniature. In exchange he gave me a Porte- 
bonheur with his picture and a few sweet words. 

So help me, God, I am in love with this man, — love 
him to the verge of poetry. Indeed, I am writing silly 
verse in his honor, and later haven't the courage to show 
it to him. Par example: 

I want you most, dear, when the sunset bright 
Makes of the hills a glorious funeral pyre. 

So die the love-light in your eyes, if die it must, 
And leave the wondrous, throbbing silence of the 
night. 

Henry isn't very intellectual, I am afraid, but he is 
the finest horseman in the world. 

If I were Queen, I would barter a regiment to have 
him appointed my Chief Master of Horse. Augustus of 
the three-hundred and fifty-two sold one for his first night 
with Cosel. 

I am racking my brains for a pretense to have him 
appointed to court duty, — anything to give him the entree 
to my apartments. But he is far too beautiful. The sancti- 



232 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

monious cats that envy me my happiness, that look upon 
love as a crime, v^ould at once combine to destroy him. 

Well, v^e'll have to bear with the difficulties of the 
situation forced upon us by these moral busy-bodies. As 
for me, I'll be thrice careful, for if He was taken away 
from me, all the joy would go out of my life. 



CHAPTER XLV 

LOVE AND THE HAPPINESS IT CONVEYS 

My Grand Mistress suspects because I am so amiable — Pangs of 
jealousy — Every good-looking man pursued by women — ^A 
good story of my cousin, the Duchess Berri — We all go 
cycling together — The Vitzthums— Love making on the 
street — A mud bath. 

December 15, 1900. 

When one is in love and loved a-plenty, weeks and 
months roll by without notice by the happy ones. 

For my part I never thought there was so much hap- 
piness in the world as I am experiencing since the begin- 
ning of September. But I have my troubles, too. First, 
the Tisch. When a lady is well pleased by her lover, then 
her eyes are bright, her cheeks glow, her lips smile; she 
bears with her entourage; she is kind to her servants. 
The moment I treated the Tisch as a human being, she 
began to suspect, and I am sure she is eating her heart 
out fretting because God gave me both nuts and teeth to 
crack them. 

But I am qualifying as an expert deceiver, and my 
Grand Mistress won't catch me in a hurry. 

233 



234 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

My Other great trouble is : long separations from Henry, 
hours upon hours in daytime, half the nights. 

What is he doing when he is not with me? Of course 
he pretends to tell, but I am not goose enough to suppose 
that he would incriminate himself for the love of truth. 
He is hiding things from me, perhaps cheating me. I have 
to arm myself with all the faith loving woman commands 
to forestall occasional noisy out-breaks of jealousy. 

Was there ever a good-looking man, women didn't try 
to capture and seduce? Manly beauty is the red rag that 
enthralls and excites women and renders them dishonest, 
though their honor doesn't lodge at the point they desig- 
nate as its habitat. 

Sometimes, when in these jealous frenzies, I wish 
Henry had a face like a Chinese kite, or like Riom, husband 
and lover of my ancestress, the Duchess du Berri. 

She was "satisHed" with him, but since her lady-in- 
waiting, too, was, I might, after all, fare no better than 
Berri, if Henry was a toad, "his skin spotted like a serpent's, 
oily like a negro's, changeable like a chameleon, with a 
turned up nose and disproportionate mouth." Yet I hardly 
believe that, like my cousin, I would say anent a rival: 
"Whoever would not be satisfied with him, would be hard 
to please." 

Alas, with women in love the extreme of ugliness 
counts as triumphantly as the charms of Adonis. Ever 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 235 

since I read certain passages of Faust, part II, Eduard 
von Hartmann's "Philosophy of the Unconscious," and Ler- 
montoff's "Hero of our Times," I am convinced that to 
love a man very good-looking, or, on the contrary, a perfect 
horror, is no sinecure. 

Fortunately Henry is almost penniless. 



Dresden, January 2, 1901. 

Henry's sister married one of the numerous Vitzthums, 
of the family that furnished the Saxon court v^ith titled 
servants and mattresses en citre for the past several hundred 
years. 

I immediately sent word to her ladyship, that having 
taken up bicycling, I would be pleased to have her attend 
me on the wheel on the afternoon following. The invi- 
tation was issued from the office of my Court Marshal, 
which is controlled by the King's. Having thus secured 
before-hand His Majesty's approval, possible criticism was 
nipped in the bud. The bride asked permission to bring 
her husband. 

"Granted. Order of dress: mufti." 

This enabled us, myself and Henry, and the Count 
and Countess to ride all over town, unrecognized by either 
officials or the public at large. 

It was great fun, and I told the Vitzthums that I 



236 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

intended to wheel every morning at nine, immediately after 
breakfast. Count Vitzthum is Henry's colonel. Of course 
he granted both Henry and himself furlough for the time set. 
What happiness ! Now I don't have to wait till after- 
noon and evening to see my lover. 



Dresden^ January 10, 1901. 

I am so happy, I am growing careless. 

The Vitzthums, profiting by the fact that they are but 
recently married, prefer to travel in pairs, and always take 
the lead. Accordingly Henry and myself, incog, as far 
as my future subjects go, are free to indulge in occasional 
caresses and sweet nonsense-talk. 

I was pouring honeyed words into Henry's ears the 
other morning when my wheel skidded on the wet pave- 
ment, and before he, or I, could save me, I was down on 
my back in the mud. 

The fact that I was again enceinte, and the other fact 
that I was covered with dirt, ought to have prompted me to 
return to the palace at once, but how un-Louise-like the 
straight and sane course would have been. 

I allowed myself to be wiped off by Henry; then 
mounted my wheel anew and raced after the Vitzthums. 

Unfortunately, a reporter heard of the incident and, 
for the benefit of his pocket, made a column out of it. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 237 

A few hours after the story appeared in the evening paper, 
the palace was in an uproar. The King wasn't well enough 
to scold me, so he delegated that pleasant duty to Prince 
George. His Royal Highness promptly informed me that 
the "damned bicycling had to stop." 



CHAPTER XLVI 



FEARS FOR MY LOVE 



Some reflections on queens of old who punished recreant lovers 
— Henry was in debt and I gave him money — Indignities by 
which some of that money was earned — Husband accom- 
panies me to Loschwitz — Reflections on Frederick Augustus's 
character. 

January 15, 1901. 

My love played the melancholy Dane for the last few 
days. His tenderness seemed labored, his spirits under a 
cloud. Every smile I got had to be coaxed from him. 

"The end of my happiness," I thought; "some chit of 
a girl dethroned me." And I cursed my birthday. "A 
kingdom for ten years off my age." 

And my thoughts of thoughts travelled back to the 
times when royal ladies had their rivals immured, as prac- 
ticed by a Brandenburg princess at the Kaiser's hunting 
box at Griinewald, or made a head shorter, like Lady Jane 
Grey, who was far too pretty to please Elizabeth; or shot, 
as elected by Queen Christina, tribade and nymphoma- 
niac both. 

And the things Queen Bess did to her unfaithfuls and 

239 



240 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

the crimes Mary Stuart perpetrated to cheat Jeannie Both- 
well out of her doughty Hepburn ! 

"If I were Queen," I thought, and I must have spoken 
aloud, for Henry said: "You would make me a great lord, 
love, wouldn't you, give me the best paying office at court, 
but that's small comfort to my creditors today." 

"It's creditors, mere creditors bothering you ?" I al- 
most shouted with joy. This man was still mine. No one 
had succeeded in luring him away from me. I threw my- 
self upon him and nearly smothered him. 

Filthy lucre, or the want of it, oppressing my boy. 
Money, miserable money, caused me to doubt his very 
loyalty. 

"How much?" 

He stuttered and denied and swore it was all a mis- 
take and that I had misunderstood him. "As an army 
officer " 

"Don't talk like Frederick Augustus. It will give me 
the greatest pleasure in the world to arrange your affairs, 
dearest." 

I got him to name the sum after a while. What a 
pity I am not rich. As Catharine sent her Orloffs and 
Potemkins and Zoritchs to the State Treasury to help them- 
selves as they saw fit, so I would gladly turn fortunes over 
to Henry, never asking for an accounting. 

But this Imperial Highness is wretchedly poor, like 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 24I 

most royal women not actually seated on the throne. I 
can*t offer my paramour financial independence, not even 
luxury, but, thank heaven, I saved up enough to provide 
for his present needs, even if my treasury be drained to 
the last twenty-mark piece and I will have to cut short 
my charities for the next quarter of a year. But he must 
not know these sordid details. 

Some day I will be Queen. I will reimburse the poor 
and I will be a true Catharine to Henry. 



Dresden, January i6, 1901. 

I brought my mite to our rendezvous. Mostly in small 
bills and twenty-mark pieces. If Henry knew that many 
of these were earned in the right royal fashion of having 
them slipped down one's stocking by a husband, too drunk 
to distinguish a royal palace from a dance-hall ! 

He told me honestly enough how he got into debt. 
"How can one lay by for a rainy day when one hasn't got 
anything ?'' 

I appreciate the play of words, for I am in the same 
predicament. 

Only once has Henry touched a card, but he lost 
considerably in horse deals, as most young army of- 
ficers do. 

His sister made a rich marriage, but he wouldn't dis- 



242 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

cover himself to her. If she asked money of her husband, 
there might be trouble, for Vitzthum is not a liberal man. 



LoscHwiTZ, April i, 1901. 

The children's health called for country air and I was 
quasi-forced to retire to Loschwitz, though I have a thou- 
sand and one reasons for remaining in Dresden. Frederick 
Augustus accompanies us. After the strenuous city life 
(in Dresden!), he needs a change and a long rest from 
drinking and carousing, he says boastingly. 

Of course, while he is here, I dare not invite the Vitz- 
thums. But as soon as he is gone, they shall come for a 
couple of weeks, and their presence will make Henry's 
possible. 

It's dreadful the way I miss the sweet boy. I suffer 
like a dog, when the longing seizes me, suffer both in heart 
and body. When I contemplate his miniature, tears come 
into my eyes. I often cry for hours thinking of him. 

And to have to endure this great booby of a husband 
of mine day and night, especially nights. It's almost more 
than I can bear. 

The grossness of his egotism reminds me of the story 
told of King James, whom the English got rid of in 1689. 

The Dutch William, instead of waiting peacefully for 
the heritage of his father-in-law, went to claim it before 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 243 

his death, and James, pressed on all sides by enemies, de- 
cided upon flight. 

One Sunday, in the month of December, "his devotions 
over, he dismissed all his servants and advised his last par- 
tisans to turn towards the rising sun. 

"After which, he lay for an hour with his wife, the 
better to take leave of her." 

The very thing Frederick Augustus would do if war 
or revolution made us fugitives. 

I never realized the diversity in our natures as much 
as I do now, when all my thoughts go out to another, when 
even connubial tendernesses seem like whip-strokes. 

The further our souls draw apart, the more disgusting 
this forced intimacy, the prostitution under the marriage 
vow, which I detest and abhor. 

But what will I do? Shut my door to him? He would 
kick it in, or climb through the window. It's easier to 
submit to the violation of my person than to breaking of 
locks and furniture. 



II 



CHAPTER XLVII 



LOVE S INTERMEZZO 



Bernhardt takes advantage of my day-dreams — My husband's in- 
dolent gaucherie — Violent love-making — Ninon who loved 
families, not men — Does Bernhardt really love me? 

LoscHwiTz, April lo, 1901. 

Fortunately Bernhardt came for a few days to relieve 
the monotony of my alcove life par le droit du plus fort. 

Tall stories of dissipation, indiscipline, scandal, had 
preceded the poor fellow. No doubt, his military superiors 
got orders to make his life as unhappy as they possibly can, 
and he retaliates. 

The Prince told me that, at last, he had succeeded ar- 
ranging for an audience with the King. His Majesty had 
denied himself to Bernhardt for months past. He man- 
aged the coveted boon only by the intervention of various 
high generals and the threat to appeal to the Kaiser. 

The Royal House of Saxony, while compelled to rec- 
ognize William as War-Lord, doesn't court his interference, 
or attempted interference, in matters military. 

Flushed with this initial success and expecting lots of 
good things in the future, Bernhardt was bent upon having 

245 



246 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

a good time. He drank with Frederick Augustus, made 
love to Lucretia and squeezed the chambermaids on his 
floor to his heart's content. 

To me he was the most gallant of cousins and, glad to 
contribute to the happiness of the poor fellow, I gave him 
plenty of rope, perhaps too much. 

On the second day of his stay we had a very merry 
dinner, having dispensed for the time with titled servants. 

After dinner the three of us retired to the veranda. I 
was in a rocker, showing perhaps more of my ankles than 
was absolutely necessary. Frederick Augustus was smoking 
dreamily. Like an animal he likes to sleep after he has 
gorged himself. 

Bernhardt, with my permission, had thrown himself 
on a wicker lounge and was absorbing cigarettes at a killing 
rate. I bantered him on his laziness. But he only sighed. 

"You wish that audience was past and forgotten," I 
asked. 

"Pshaw, I'm thinking of something prettier than the 
King." 

Remembering Bernhardfs chief weakness, I indulged in 
the old joke, ''Cherchez la femmef 

Bernhardt replied, with another succession of groans, 
"You are right, Louise; parfaitement, cherchez la femme," 

"Egads," grunted Frederick Augustus, glad for an ex- 
cuse to go to his room, or play a game of pinochle with 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY ^*f 

his aides, "egads, if you indulge in intellectualities, I had 
better go. A full stomach and French conversation — 
whew !*' 

The Tisch was in Dresden; Frdulein von Schoen- 
berg with the children, Lucretia flirting somewhere at a 
neighboring country chalet. We were alone on the remote 
terrace and it was getting dark. Bernhardt sat up and 
looked at me with eyes of life-giving fire, but continued 
silent. 

"You want me to think that you command the rays 
of the sun stolen by Prometheus?'* 

He answered not, but sought to burn the skin of my 
neck and bosom by those Prometheus rays. 

Now, in the morning I got a note from Henry, and I 
had been thinking of the dear boy every minute. I was 
longing for him; my heart, my senses were crying for him. 

I forgot Bernhardt; I forgot all around me. With my 
fancies focussed on my lover, I leaned back in my arm- 
chair, gazing at the rising moon. My word, at that mo- 
ment I was lost to everything. 

I half-awoke from my dream when I heard Bernhardt 
rise. A moment later I felt his eyes prowling over my 
body. Then a shadow darkened my face and Bernhardt 
said with a strange quaver in his voice: 

''Cherchez la femme. You are the woman, Louise, you 
and none else." 



248 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

And wild, forbidden kisses burned on my face, on my 
neck, on my breasts. Both hands claimed a lover's lib- 
erties. 

I was taken completely unawares; in my mind of minds 
I was in the Countess's pavilion, receiving Henry's caresses. 
All sense of location had vanished. And, thinking of my 
lover, I clasped both arms about Bernhardt's neck and drew 
him to me. We kissed like mad. The love feast for Henry 
became Bernhardt's in the twinkling of an eye. 

Whether he felt like a thief, I don't know; for 
my part my senses responded to Henry, not to his 
substitute. 

How long this embrace lasted, I don't know. Some- 
body, or some noise, caused us to separate. 

I fled and locked myself in my room. 

"Tell His Royal Highness he must excuse me. I can't 
see him before he goes away. Say I have a headache, or 
the gout, I don't care which," I commanded Lucretia next 
morning. 

The previous night I had denied myself to Frederick 
Augustus, though he entreated and raved. 

While I appreciate the arch-Lais's bon mot that "one 
can't judge of a family by a single specimen," which made 
Ninon talk of her lovers not as Coligny, Villarceau, Se- 
vigne, Conde, d'Albret, etc., but as les Rochefoucaults, les 
d'Effiats, les Condes, les Sevignes, etc., I was determined 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 249 

not to betray Henry by the whole House of Saxony in a 
single twelve-hours. 

I wonder whether this Bernhardt loves me? Perhaps, 
on his part, it was the longing for the girl he adores, as, 
on mine, it was longing for Henry that drew us together 
with electric force. And, of course, environment had some- 
thing to do with it: moon, opportunity, Frederick Augus- 
tus's indolent gaucherie. Yes, why deny it, the good din- 
ner we had, the champagne. 



CHAPTER XLVIII 

GRAND MISTRESS TELLS HUSBAND I KEEP A DIARY 

He wants to see it, but seems unsuspecting — Grand Mistress 
denies that she meant mischief, but I upbraid her unmerci- 
fully — Threaten to dismiss her like a thieving lackey. 

LoscHwiTZ, May i, 1901. 

Frederick Augustus leaves tomorrow. Forever, I 
thought, when he put this question to me : 

"You are keeping a Diary, Louise?" 

I was frightened dumb. I stared at him. 

"What's the matter," he laughed. "Tm not going to 
eat you." He didn't seem to be at all perturbed. 

"How do you know I keep a Diary?" I stuttered. 

Nonchalantly enough he made answer: "Your bag- 
of-bones Baroness told me. Full of forbidden things, I sup- 
pose, since you regard it a state secret. You often say that 
my education was sadly neglected. Maybe I can learn a 
thing or two from your scribblings. Let's look 'm over." 

By this time I had regained my composure. "Nat- 
urally," I said, "a Diary records thoughts and things in- 
tended for the writer only, but if you choose to be ungen- 
tlemanly enough to wish to peruse those pages more sacred 

251 



252 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

than private letters, I suppose I will have to submit." 
Frederick Augustus changed the subject, but I felt in- 
stinctively that he was disappointed. Someone had played 
on his curiosity, and to go unsatisfied is not at all in this 
prince's line. 

Of course, the someone was the Tisch, but how did 
she know? I will ask her as soon as Frederick Augustus 
is gone. 

* * * 

LoscHwiTZ^ May 2, 1901. 
"Have you ever seen my Diary?'' I asked the Tisch 
this morning. 

"Never, Your Imperial Highness." 
"Then how do you know I keep a Diary?'' 
"I surmised it because I saw Your Imperial Highness 
write repeatedly in one and the same book." The hussy 
affected a humble tone, but the note of triumph and hatred 
underlying the creature's meekness did not escape me. 

"And the mere surmise prompted you to blab to my 
husband, arouse his suspicions?" 

"For Heaven's sake," cried my Grand Mistress, "I had 
no idea that His Royal Highness didn't know about the 
Diary. Secrets between the Prince-Royal and Your Impe- 
rial Highness — ^how dare I pre-suppose such a state of 
things? His Royal Highness casually asked how the Crown 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 253 

Princess killed time in Loschwitz. I mentioned riding, 
driving, bicycling, writing letters, writing in the Diary " 

My fingers itched to slap her lying face, Grand-Duchess 
of Tuscany fashion, but I kept my temper. 

"Listen to me," I said. "While you have secret in- 
structions to play the serpent in my household and to be- 
tray, for dirty money, your mistress of the Blood Imperial, 
your duties as a spy are confined to my going and coming, 
to my exterior conduct, to my visits outside the palace, to 
my friendships, perhaps. 

"They cannot possibly encompass my thoughts. And 
my Diary is the repository of my thoughts — thoughts that 
must not be defiled by your favor-seeking curiosity. Be 
warned. The next time you dare act the burglar — I say 
burglar — I will kick you out of doors like a thieving lackey." 

She got as white as a sheet and hissed back: "Your 
Imperial Highness can't dismiss me. Only His Majesty has 
power " 

I interrupted her with an imperious gesture. 

"I said I will kick you out of doors like a thieving 
lackey," I repeated, "and I will do so this moment if you 
say another word. Whether or not His Majesty will pun- 
ish me for the act, that's my business. You will be on the 
street and will stay on the street." 

I pointed to the door: "I dismiss you now. You will 
keep to your room for the rest of the day." 



254 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

I saw the Tisch was near collapse. 

"Your Imperial Highness deigns to insult a defense- 
less woman," she breathed as she went out. 

Defenseless ! So is the viper that attacks one's heel ! 
First these "defenseless" creatures goad one to madness, 
then they appeal to our noblesse oblige. The enmity be- 
tween the Tisch and I is more intense than ever. 



CHAPTER XLIX 



ARISTOCRATIC VISITORS 



I hear disquieting news about my lover's character — The aristoc- 
racy a dirty lot — Love-making made easy by titled friends — 
Anecdotes of Richelieu and the Duke of Orleans — The Ger- 
man nobleman who married Miss Wheeler and had to re- 
sign his birthright — The disreputable business the Pappen- 
heims and other nobles used to be in — I am afraid to ques- 
tion my lover as to charges. 

LoscHwiTZ^ May 15, 1901. 

The Vitzthums have been visiting for a week. Henry 
lodges in the village, but spends nearly all his time in the 
castle and grounds. We play tennis, polo, ball; we drive, 
ride, go bicycling, we dine and sup together. 

I ought to be the happiest woman in the world, but a 
shadow dims the ideal picture my mind's eye drew of the 
lover. 

I have it recorded somewhere — I wish I hadn't, so I 
might doubt my memory — that Henry told me he never 
borrowed from his sister. Countess Vitzthum's confidences 
to me show that he did repeatedly, that, in fact, he is for- 
ever trying to borrow. 

"He is a spendthrift; he cannot be trusted," said his 
25s 



256 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

sister, who loves him dearly. "He will wreck his career 
if he continues at the pace he is going. Some day we may 
hear of him as a waiter or cab-driver in New York." 

These disclosures frightened me. I might forgive him 
the lie, but what is he doing with the money? 

Spending it on lewd women like Bernhardt, I suppose. 

I said: "Oh," and Madame von Vitzthum seemed to 
catch its significance. It occurred to her at once that she 
had said too much and she tried to minimize her brother's 
delinquencies. But I know. 

Maybe some of my money went to pay hotel expenses 

for 

* ♦ * 

At Midnight, 
My cousin Richelieu caused his mistresses to be painted 
in all sorts of monastic garments and licentious devices, 
saying: "I have my saints and martyrs; they are all that; 
but, as for virgins, there are none outside of Paradise." 
Substitute paillards for the holy ones and you have the 
situation in a nutshell. 

The Vitzthums are panderers. They always manage 
to leave me alone with Henry. When we are a-wheel, they 
ride a mile ahead; while playing tennis one or the other 
aims the ball, every little while, to enter the open window- 
of a summer-house, where my lover and I can exchange 
a few rapid kisses. When we are driving, without coach- 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 257 

man or groom, of course, they always "feel like walking 
a bit/' while Henry and I remain in the carriage. 

The same at the house, on the veranda. They are 
always de trop. Vitzthum even sacrifices himself to the 
extent of paying court to the Tisch and engaging her en- 
tire attention, if it must be. He reminds me of a certain 
colonel of the French army during the Regency. 

''Monseigneur*' said this gentleman to my cousin 
d'Orleans, "permit me to employ my regiment as a guard 
for my wife, and I swear to you that nobody shall go near 
her but Your Highness." 

Of course, it's very lovely of them, but rather empha- 
sizes the poor opinion I have of the nobility. 

Your nobleman and noblewoman adopt all tones, all 
airs, all masks, all allures, frank and false, flattering and 
brutal, choleric or mild, virtuous or bawdy — anything as 
long as it makes for their profit. Some months ago I met 
at the Dresden court the Dowager Countess Julie Feo- 
dorowna of Pappenheim, who told everybody she could per- 
suade to listen that her eldest son, Max Albrecht, had to 
resign the succession, because he married beneath him, an 
American heiress, Miss Wheeler of Philadelphia. 

"Then you despise money?" I queried with a malicious 
thought just entering my head. 

"Not exactly, Your Imperial Highness," she said, "but 
our house laws " 



258 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"Those funny house laws," I smiled, "you don't say 
they forbid a Pappenheim to accept half a dozen millions 
from his wife, when, in days gone by, the Counts of Pap- 
penheim's chief income was the tax on harlotry in Fran- 
conia and Swabia/' 

The Countess nearly dropped. "Don't be alarmed," I 
said. "See the pompous looking man in the corner yon- 
der? It's Count Henneberg. His forbears held the fief- 
ship of the Wiirzburg city brothel for many hundred years. 
That's where the family fortune came from." 



LoscHwiTZ, May 17, 1901. 

I am an ingrate. I bit the hand that fed me. Noble 
iniquity that yields such delicious crumbs of love as Henry 
and I stole in moments of ecstasy in park and parlor, in 
pavilion and veranda, on our drives and rides, be blessed a 
hundred times. Ah, the harvest of little tendernesses, the 
sweet words I caught on the wing — recompense for the 
weeks of abstinence I suffered ! 

Occasionally only, very occasionally, I feel like ques- 
tioning Henry as to the lie he was guilty of. I quizzed 
his sister time and again about his relations with women. 
She always gives me a knowing laugh; I wonder whether 
she means to be impertinent, or is simply a silly goose. 

I won't ask him. If he is innocent, as I sincerely hope, 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 259 

he will be offended. If he is not, he will be ashamed of 
himself and will avoid me in future. It's "innocent," you 
lose, and "guilty," you don't win. 

And I love him. I want him, whether he lies to me 
or not. 



CHAPTER L 

TO LIVE UNDER KING's AND PRINC: GEORGe's EYE 

Abruptly ordered to the royal summer residence — The Vitz- 
thums and Henry take flight — Enmeshed by Prince George's 
intrigues — Those waiting for a crown have no friends — 
What I will do when Queen — No wonder Kings of old mar- 
ried only relatives — Interesting facts about relative marriages 
furnished by scientist. 

LoscHwiTZ^ May i8, 1901. 

All-highest order to proceed to Pillnitz, the royal sum- 
mer residence, without delay — a command I cannot possi- 
bly evade. Conveyed in curt, almost insulting terms — 
the Tisch's work, no doubt. 

It came like lightning out of a blue sky, just when 
Henry and I had planned some real love-making d la 
Dresden. 

The Vitzthums lost no time taking their leave when 
the scent of royal disgrace was in the air, and, as if to 
emphasize the obscene office they had assumed, they spirited 
Henry away ere we had time even to say goodbye. 

What a life I am leading with the ogre of the King's 
wrath forever hanging over me; Prince George's intrigues, 
octopus-like, enmeshing me ! 

261 



262 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Ten years I have been Crown Princess of these realms. 
Three Princes and a Princess I gave to Saxony. A fifth 
child is trembling in my v^^omb, yet every atom of happiness 
that falls to my lot is moulded into a strand of the rope 
fastening 'round my neck. 

I haven't a friend in the world. A most dangerous 
thing to be on good terms with the heirs to the crown. 
Makes the temporary incumbent of the bauble nervous, 
makes him jealous. 

When I am Queen, I will have friends in plenty. But 
then I won't need any. Immense wealth will be at my 
disposal. I will have offices to distribute, titles, crosses and 
stars. 

Instead of tolerating the serpents now coiling at my 
fireside ready to spring at a word from their master, I 
will appoint to court offices persons I love or esteem, at 
least. 

Henry shall be my Chief Equerry; the Tisch will be 
dismissed in disgrace — no pension. 

But I am day-dreaming again. I started out to say 
that I had no friends. Yet there's Bernhardt? Precisely 
— as long as I am his mistress. 

Marie is dead, Melita expects to be divorced before 
the end of the year. She will be a Russian Grand-Duchess, 
and the tedium of petty German court life will know her 
no longer. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 263 

Aside from Lucretia, there isn't a man or woman at 
the Saxon court whom I can trust, for our high func- 
tionaries are only lackeys having a bathroom to them- 
selves. In no other way do they differ from the 
servants who are allowed one bathroom per twenty-four 
heads. 

But the high aristocracy! Its men and women flatter 
us to get us into leading strings, try to make us pawns on 
the political or social chess-board. As a whole, they are a 
despicable lot. 

No wonder kings of old married members of their 
own family exclusively, even their sisters, in re of which 
the learned Baron von Reitzenstein told me many interest- 
ing details. 

He copied especially from Egyptian records, but also 
from Armenian, Babylonian and Persian, to wit: 

Daranavausch married his niece, Phratunga. 

His son and successor married his niece Artayanta. 

Artaxerxes was also married to a niece of his. 

Darius II and Parysatis married their sisters. 

Kambyses married two of his sisters. 

Artachschasa II married his two daughters; Kobad 
his daughter Sambyke. 

Artaviraf, the founder of a great ancient religion, mar- 
ried no less than seven of his sisters — because "there were 
no other women worthy of the honor." 



264 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

According to that, the aristocracy of old must have 
been as rotten as that of our day. 

Lucretia is the only person I trust, and they would 
have robbed me of her services long ago if my marriage 
contract did not vest the power of dismissal in me. 

Unlike me, she can afford to defy the King's wrath. 



CHAPTER LI 

COLD RECEPTION — ENEMIES ALL AROUND 

Frederick Augustus gives his views on adultery — Doesn't care 
personally, but "the King knows" — "Thank God, the King is 
ill" — I am deprived of my children — Have I got the moral 
strength to defy my enemies? 

PiLLNiTZ^ May 20, 1901. 

I am undone. That malicious Tisch woman holds me 
in the hollow of her hand. 

I dropped into a sea of ice when I set foot in the cas- 
tle. Long faces, suspicious looks, frigidity everywhere. 
The King treats me like a criminal. I wonder the guards 
don't refuse their spiel at my coming and going. 

* * * 

PiLLNiTZ^ May 21, 1 90 1. 

Frederick Augustus arrived. He doesn't say for how 
long, and acts the icicle in the presence of others. At night 
he seeks his "rights," seeks them brutally. 

This afternoon he said to me: 

"That you made me a cuckold isn't exactly killing 
me; this sort of thing happened to better men than I, and 
— I was almost prepared for it. But to hear it announced 

from the King's lips " 

26s 



266 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Because His Majesty knows — Frederick Augustus 
raved and swore I had dishonored him. 

"If I wasn't a royal prince, I would be kicked out of the 
army/' he whined. 

In short, adultery isn't so very reprehensible if the 
King doesn't know. 

Late tonight profound disquietude at court. The King 
is ill. 

Thank God, the audience I feared must be postponed. 



PiLLNiTZ, May 22, 1 90 1. 

It wasn't. His Majesty appointed Prince George his 
representative, and I received a command to call on him 
at ten sharp. 

I wTote on the Court Marshal's brutal invitation: "I 
refuse to see His Royal Highness." 

Ten minutes later the Tisch entered my apartment 
with a look of triumph on her hateful face. She handed 
me a letter on a golden plate and waited. 

"Your Ladyship is dismissed," I snapped. 

She didn't move: "I expect your Imperial Highness's 
commands with respect to the royal children," she said. 
"May it please Your Imperial Highness to read Prince 
George's letter." 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY j,^y 

I tore open the envelope. His Majesty's representative 
"graciously permits me to see my children at nine in the 
morning and between five and six in the afternoon. At no 
other time, and never unless Baroness Tisch is in at- 
tendance." 

I threw the letter on the floor and trampled on it. 
"Get out," I commanded the Baroness. If she hadn't gone 
instantly, I believe I would have choked her. 

So I am deemed unworthy to mother the children I 
bore; and a spy is officially appointed to watch my inter- 
course with the little ones lest I corrupt them. No other 
inference was to be drawn from the measure. 

"I will show them." But no sooner was the threat 
launched, than a great fear clutched at my heart. 

Was I in a position to defy them? To guard the 
purity of the royal children "is the King's first duty to- 
wards his family." If he had proof positive that I was an 
impure woman, there was no use quarrelling with his de- 
cision. Besides, moral delinquencies engender more than 
physical weakness. I felt my boasted energy ebbing away 
fast. 

"I am without strength, unnerved, because Henry left 
me," I lied to myself. The abandoned woman is either a 
tigress or a kitten. I happen to be no tigress. 



CHAPTER LII 

PRINCE GEORGE REVEALS TO ME THE DEPTH OF HIS HATRED 

A terrible interview — "The devil will come to claim you" — Un- 
certain how much the King and Prince George know — I 
break into the nursery and stay with my children all day — 
Prince George insults me in my own rooms and threatens 
prison if I disobey him. 

PiLLNiTZ, May 23, 1901. 

I caught Prince George in the park after laying in 
wait for him three long hours. 

"Why does Your Royal Highness forbid me to see my 
children ?'* I demanded, every nerve aquiver. 

"His Majesty's orders. He thinks you are not fit com- 
pany for growing children. You are leading a godless 
life." 

"What does Your Royal Highness mean?" 

"What I said. A godless life, such as you entered 
upon, is an invitation to the devil. Sins are the deviFs 
envoys. When you are black with sin, the devil himself 
will come to claim you." 

He dropped his theological lingo and continued: "My 
fine daughter-in-law wants to be everybody's lady-love. If 

269 



270 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

she had her sweet will, she would ruin every young chap 
in the residence and the surrounding country." 

He looked about him and, seeing we were unobserved, 
eased his bile in this pretty epigram as rank as a serpent's 
saliva: "An adulterous wife, that's what you are. Satan 
alone knows how many you seduced." 

It was more than I could stand and I burst into tears. 
In moments like this women always cry, but even if I 
hadn't felt like doing so, I would have cried because George 
hates it. 

"Prove to me, prove to the King that you are sorry for 
what you have done, return to the path of righteousness, 
to God, and we will see about the children," he whispered 
as he moved away. 

"What does he know?" "How much have they found 
out?" I kept saying to myself as I withdrew to my lonely 

apartments. 

^ ^ 3K mM 

PiLLNiTZ^, May 24, 1901. 
No answer to the questions in my last entry. The 
silent persecution continues unabated. I am growing des- 
perate. 

* * * 

PiLLNiTZ, May 25, 1901. 
This morning at eight-thirty I went to the nursery. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY • 27I 

The Baroness tried to speak to me. I held up my 
hand. "Not a word from you, or something terrible will 
happen.'' 

Frdulein von Schoenberg, who is really a sweet girl, 
offered some respectful advice. I begged her to be silent. 
If the door had been locked I would have forced it with 
the dagger I carried in my bosom. 

Lucretia came and whispered. "I have decided to 
stay, and stay I will. Let them do their worst if they 
dare," I told her. 

I changed the children's curriculum. "You can drive 
every day; you can't have mother every day. Let's have 
some games." 

I remained in the nursery till all the children were 
asleep. They partook of the breakfast, lunch and dinner 
I ordered for myself. A great treat for them. We were 
very happy. 

But I waited in vain for interference. Nothing hap- 
pened to clear the situation. Those questions were still 
unanswered when I returned to my apartments. 

I had just sat down to read the evening papers, when 
Prince George entered unannounced. 

"If ever again you dare disobey my commands" — he 
shouted without preliminaries. 

I cut him short: "Are the children yours or mine?" 

"They belong to Saxony, to the Royal House," he 



2.^2 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

bawled, and poured forth a torrent of abuse without giving 
me a chance to put in a word. "You shall be disciplined 
to the last extremity. We will imprison you in some lonely 
tower, without state or attendants. You shall not see your 
children from one year's end to the other." 

"Prison for the Crown Princess? Would you dare. 
Prince George?" 

"At the Tower of Nossen rooms are in readiness for 
your Imperial Highness," sneered my father-in-law as he 
walked out. 

Nossen ! A ruined country-house, flanked by a mediae- 
val tower in the midst of swamps. The nearest habitation 
miles away. Neither railway nor post-office, neither tele- 
graph nor telephone — ^just the place to bury one alive. And I 
only thirty-one. 

Augustus the Physical Strong imprisoned Countess 
Cosel at Nossen six months before he sent her to her 
prison-grave in Stolpen. After Cosel's departure, another 
royal mistress was lodged in Nossen, and as she would 
neither commit suicide, nor succumt to the fever, they 
starved her to death. And it all happened in the eighteenth 
century. 

The word Nossen sent cold shivers down my spine. I 
am sure I won't sleep a wink. 



i 



CHAPTER LIII 

REVOLVER IN HAND^ I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION 

An insolent Grand Mistress, but of wonderful courage — Impris- 
onment, threats to kill have no effect on her — Disregards 
my titles — My lover's souvenir and endearing words — How 
she caused Henry to leave me — My paroxysms of rage — 
Henry's complete betrayal of me. 

PiLLNiTZ, May 26, 1901. 

This morning I awoke a mental and physical wreck, 
but determined to solve those vexatious questions : "What 
do the King and Prince George know?" "What have they 
found out?" 

I slipped on a dressing-gown, fetched my small revolver 
from its hiding-place in the boudoir and rang for the Tisch. 

I received her politely enough. I was quiet, cold, 
calculating. She gave a start as she observed my stony 
countenance. 

"Baroness," I said, motioning her to come nearer, 
"explain the attitude assumed by His Majesty, Prince 
George and the rest." 

She shrugged her shoulders. 

"I want to know. Do you hear, Grand Mistress? I 
command you to speak," I cried. 

273 



274 THE STORY OF LOUIS£ 

A sneer of contempt hovered about her lips. She is a 
viper, this woman, but has the courage of the rattle-snake 
in action. 

I turned the keys in the several doors and threw them 
under the bed. From under the pillow I drew my revolver. 

I showed her the weapon and calmly announced, 
accentuating each word: "You won't leave this room alive 
until the question I put to you is answered to my satis- 
faction. I want the whole truth. You needn't excuse your 
own part in the business. As Henri Quatre said to the 
lover of Diane de Poitiers, secreted under her bed, as he 
threw him half a cold bird: 'We all want to live, some 
honestly, some dishonestly.' You choose the dishonest road. 
Be it so. 

"But I want you to state what you accuse me of. 
Hurry,'' I added menacingly. 

The Tisch was unmoved. Either she thinks me a 
horrible dastard or is brave to madness. She looked at 
me fearlessly and smiled. She seemed to enjoy my rage. 

"Answer or I will shoot you like the dog you are." 

And then her cold and fearless voice rang out: "Put 
your revolver away. I am not afraid to tell you, and that 
thing might go off. Is it possible/' she continued sarcasti- 
cally, "you have to ask?" 

This woman dared to address me "you." "Tisch," I 
thundered, "my title reads Your Imperial Highness." 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 275 

Another contemptuous smile curled her thin lips as 
she answered insolently: "At your commands. But if you 
want me to talk, put away the weapon. I won't open my 
head while threatened." 

I threw the revolver into a drawer of my chiffonier 
and the Tisch approached me. "Do you know this?" she 
hissed, whipping from her desert bosom the golden Porte- 
bonheur, Henry's present. 

I had missed it for two days. Fear seized my throat. 

"Do you know this?" repeated the Tisch, pushing the 
button and disclosing Henry's miniature with the legend 
"To my sweetest Louise." 

"Where did you get it ?" I asked, half-dead with shame 
and fear. 

"Never mind. It's the last piece of evidence that 
fell into my hands. The real facts I have known for a 
long while." 

"And sold that knowledge ?" 

"I did my duty." 

"Report, then." 

And she told the story of her infamy — or mine? 

My true relations with Henry were discovered by her 
at Loschwitz. He is a distant relative of hers and she 
an intimate friend of his mother. Hence she took care not 
to compromise the young man. The entire blame was put 
on me. 



276 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"Her Imperial Highness is indulging in a dangerous 
flirtation with Baron Bergen/' she advised the King. "They 
must be separated at once lest that exemplary, young man 
fall victim to her seductive wiles. I beseech Your Majesty 
to order the Crown Princess to Pillnitz and put a stop to 
her most reprehensible conduct." 

Hence the royal command to proceed to Pillnitz with- 
out a moment's delay. "The King and Prince George deem 
your honor unsafe unless you are under their watchful 
eyes," she had the effrontery to tell me. 

She drew a key from her pocket and opened one of 
the bedroom doors. 

With her hand on the knob, she said, bowing formally: 

"By Your Imperial Highness's leave, I will keep the 
Portehonheur to use in case you are ever tempted again 
'to throw me out of doors like a thieving lackey !' " 

A low bow, a sarcastic smile, — my executioner was 
gone. And I broke some priceless bric-a-brac, stamped my 
foot on the pearl necklace Frederick Augustus had given 
me, tore three or four lace handkerchiefs and stuffed the 
rags in my mouth to prevent me from crying aloud. 



Pillnitz, May 2y, 1901. 
Lucretia finished the Tisch's report. The good soul 
hadn't had the courage to tell me before, but now that the 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 277 

Grand Mistress had spoken, considerations of delicacy no 
longer stood in the way. 

What a judge of character I am, to be sure: Henry, 
whom I raised from obscurity, whom I befriended, loved, 
advanced, rescued from the hands of usurers — a traitor, 
pshaw, worse, — I cannot write down the word, but it's in 
my mind. 

Henry, who hadn't the time to take leave from me, 
devoted an hour to the Tisch before he went away with 
the Vitzthums. 

He told her all and gave her his word of honor — the 
honor of a man who accepted money from the woman 
weak enough to love him — that, first, he would never see 
me again of his own accord and would reject both my 
entreaties and commands; secondly, that he would petition 
to be transferred to a distant garrison to be out of the 
path of temptation; thirdly, that he would burn my letters. 

The Tisch, on her part, promised to tell the King 
only half the truth — not for my sake, of course, but to 
shield her dear, seduced young relative. 



CHAPTER LIV 

FORCED TO DO PENANCE LIKE A TRAPPIST MONK 

"By the King's orders" — I submit for the sake of my children — 
Must fast as well as pray — In delicate health, I insist upon 
returning to Dresden — Bernhardt, to avoid being maltreated 
by King, threatens him with his sword — The King's awful 
wrath — Bernhardt prisoner in Nossen — I escape, temporarily, 
protracted ennui, 

PiLLNiTZ^ May 28, 1 90 1. 

Though I am in delicate health, the King, having 
recovered from his illness, commanded me to do penance, — 
almost public penance. 

Fast and pray, pray and fast is the order of the day 
for the next two weeks. 

I arise every morning at five. At six a closed carriage 
takes me to a distant nunnery of the Ursulines, a good 
hour's travel. I am forced to attend mass, which also lasts 
an hour. Then a half-hour's sermon, dealing with fire and 
brimstone, hell and damnation. 

When that's over the Mother Superior kindly asks me 
to her cell and lectures me for an hour on the duties of 

279 



280 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

a wife and mother, and on the terrors that follow in the 
wake of adultery. 

(I wonder where she gets her wisdom She isn't 
married, she isn't supposed to have children, and she ought 
to know that the founder of her religion was most kind 
to the adulteress.) 

Then back to Pillnitz and breakfast, for it's the King's 
express command that I worship on an empty stomach; 
some Jesuit told George my sins would never be forgiven 
unless the torture of the fast was added to that of early 
rising, travel, prostration before the altar and listening to 
pious palaver. 

I stand it for my children's sake. They will be returned 
to me after I did penance full score. My only satisfaction: 
I compel the Tisch to attend me on my trips, and make her 
sit on the back seat of the carriage. I know this turns her 
stomach and watch her twitching face w4th devilish glee. 

* * * 

Dresden^ June 15, 1901. 
With the authority of the pregnant woman I demanded 
that I be allowed to return to town. 

*Tf compelled to see Prince George and the rest of my 
enemies daily, my child will be mal-formed, or I will 
suffer an avortement/' I told the King. 

They let me go and I am breathing more freely. I 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 281 

still wear the chain and ball, but they don't cut into my 
flesh as in Pillnitz. 

Yesterday I learned that Bernhardt was in Dresden, 
and sent for him. He came in company of two army 
officers who remained in the anteroom. 

"I am a prisoner," he said resignedly, "those fellows 
outside will conduct me to Nossen." 

The audience granted him several months ago took 
place only after my departure from the summer residence, 
and developed into a fearful scene. 

"His Majesty," said Bernhardt, "was in a rage when 
I entered. * State what you have to say,' said the King, 
'and be brief.' 

" If Your Majesty will graciously permit me to reside 
in Dresden, I will promise to lead a life in accordance 
with Your Majesty's intentions and will obey your slightest 
wish.' 

" 'What ?' cried the King, 'You dare name conditions 
for your good conduct ?' " 

Bernhardt denied any intention to impose conditions, 
but begged to submit to His Majesty that he couldn't exist 
in those small garrisons. If in Dresden, it would come 
easier to him to turn over a new leaf. 

"Sure, all you young rakes want to live in the capital," 
sneered the King, "because it's easy in a big town to hide 
one's delinquencies." 



282 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"Your Majesty," cried Bernhardt, "if I ever did a 
reprehensible thing, it was forced upon me by intolerable 
conditions." 

The King grew white with rage. 

"No excuses," he thundered. "You are a rip and ugly 
customer and you will stay in the garrison I designated." 

Even before the King had finished, Bernhardt inter- 
rupted him with a fierce: "Don't you call me names. 
Majesty. I won't stand for that." 

"Won't stand for anything that I think proper to mete 
out to you, rascal? I will make you." The King had risen 
and was about to box Bernhardt's ears. 

Bernhardt jumped back two paces and shouted like 
mad : "Don't you dare touch me. I will defend my honor 
sword in hand, even if I have to shoot myself on the spot." 

For several seconds the King stood speechless, then 
he reached out his hand and touched an electric button. 
Marshal Count Vitzthum responded. 

"Take him," said the King hoarsely — "he is your 
prisoner." 

Bernhardt drew his sword and threw it at ithe King's 
feet. He was conducted to a room, and sentinels were 
posted outside his door and under his windows. Presently 
the telephone called together a council of war and it was 
decided that Bernhardt go to Nossen during the King's 
pleasure, or rather xiispleasure. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 283 

"The army officers that act as my guards are not 
allowed to speak to me," said Bernhardt, "and the garrison 
in Nossen will likewise be muzzled." He laughed as he 
added: "I suppose I shall have to make friends with the 
spirits of the great Augustus's mistresses haunting the old 
burg. They were gay ones ! If the King remembered that, 
he would send me to the Trappists rather than to Nossen." 



Dresden^ July i, 1901. 

I never dreamt that science would come to my rescue, 
but a clever woman has more than one trick up her sleeve. 
On a visit to a book store I happened to see a new publica- 
tion on the Hygienics of Pregnancy and had it sent to the 
palace. 

Last night, when nearly dead with ennui, I turned over 
the leaves of the volume and came across an article advising 
women in my condition to seek plenty of merry company. 
My mind was made up at once. 

First thing in the morning I sent for the Court Physi- 
cian, and with many a sigh and groan gave him to under- 
stand that I feared to have melancholy if I continued the 
monotonous life I was leading. 

I happened to strike one of the doctor's pet theories, 
and he recited whole pages from the book I had been read- 
ing. Then he asked me a hundred questions, and rest 



284 



THE STORY OF LOUISE 



assured that my answers were in accordance with my 
wishes. 

"I will have the honor to report to His Majesty at 
once," said the Councillor at the end of the examination, 
"that some diversion is imperative in Your Imperial High- 
nesses case. Would Your Imperial Highness be pleased 
to visit the theatre or the Opera if the King approves ?" 

The King did approve, and the Crown Princess of 
Saxony is once more permitted the privilege of Frau 
Schmidt and Frau Miiller; namely, to go to the theatre 
when she feels like it. 



i 



CHAPTER LV 

FRANCIS JOSEPH JOINS MY SAXON ENEMIES 

Cuts me dead before whole family — Everybody talks over my 
head at dinner — I refuse to attend more court festivities — 
Husband protests because I won't stand for insult from Em- 
peror — I give rein to my contempt for his family — Hypo- 
crites, despoilers, gamblers, religious maniacs, brutes — Be- 
nign lords to the people, tyrants at home — I cry for my 
children like a she-dog whose young were drowned. 

Dresden^ November 2, 1901. 

Great family concourse to look my new baby over, 
dear Marie Alix, born at Wachwitz, September 27. 

Emperor Francis Joseph was first to arrive, the Majesty 
who is forever posing as the family's good genius, as 
upholder of peace and amity among his countless cousins 
and nieces, and the many uncles and aunts and other 
relatives of his grand-children. 

Behold how he lived up to this reputation ! 

I had been commanded to attend the reception in the 
Queen's salon, and made my bow to him. He bowed all 
around, looking at each present, but managed to overlook 
me. 

Then he commenced a long and weary conversation 
285 



286 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

with the Queen, at whose elbow I sat, and when his stock 
of platitudes was exhausted, turned to fat Mathilde, con- 
gratulating her on the possession of the Stern Kreuz 
decoration, an Austrian order which I likewise wore at 
my corsage. It was none other than the late Empress 
Elizabeth who pinned it on me. 

Presently dinner was announced. The Emperor took 
in Her Majesty, the King, nolens, volens, had to conduct 
me, but gave me neither word nor look. Nor did the others. 
I couldn't have been more isolated on a desert island, than 
at this royal board. 

They talked and cracked their silly jokes, and paid 
compliments to each other and were careful not to let their 
tongues run away with their intriguing minds, but all went 
above my head. No one spoke to me but the lackeys: "If 
it please Your Imperial Highness '' 

Frederick Augustus tore into my bedroom some little 
time after I had retired. Picture of the offended gentle- 
man, if you please. I got no more than I deserve^ but it 
"reflected on him, h-i-m, HIM." Though it was a "family 
dinner," he, the Crown Prince of Saxony, was "publicly" dis- 
graced. The Emperor had treated the Crown Princess as 
air. He had not deigned to address a single word to her. 
The Crown Princess was a trollop in the Imperial eyes — it 
was enough to drive the Crown Prince to drink. 

"Drink yourself to death then," I shrieked. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 287 

During the night I speculated what to do : ask a private 
audience of the Emperor, state my side of the case and 
beg his forgiveness and protection, beg, especially, for better 
treatment at his hands? 

And if he refused? 

Francis Joseph is a good deal of a Jesuit. When he 
hates, he never lets it come to a break; when he loves, 
he never attaches himself. 

If I stooped to humiliate myself, he might choose to 
debase me still more. It was entirely probable that he 
would betray my confidences to the King and Prince George. 

I will defy him and — all of them! 

"Her Imperial Highness regrets " my Court Mar- 
shal wrote in answer to all invitations or rather "com- 
mands'' for the next three days. When I refused to par- 
ticipate in the "grand leave-taking," Frederick Augustus 
came post-haste to expostulate with me. 

"You must. It would be an affront without precedent." 

"Take leave of a man who didn't say good-day to me 
on his arrival, and who probably intends to slight me in 
similar fashion on going away " 

In lieu of argument the Prince Royal abused me like 
a pick-pocket; I had waited for it and now I let loose. 

"You are like the rest of your family," I shouted: 
"ignorant, thoughtless, brutal en venerie, sanctimonious in 
dotage. I know few people for whom I have so great a 



288 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

detestation as for the Royal Saxons. Look at your father, 
there is no more Jesuitical a Jesuit, the inward man as 
hideous as the outward. He would be an insolent lackey, 
if he didn't happen to be a prince. 

"And Johann George — a shameless inheritance-chaser, 
despoiler of pupillary funds, gambler at the bourse, who 
whines like a whipped dog when he loses. 

"The royal Bernhardt, companion of street- walkers ! 

"Prince Max, who talks theology, but keeps his eye on 
Therese. 

"Your Queen, a victim of religious madness, your King 
and his system — organized selfishness. Chicanery for those 
dependent upon him, ruin for all more gifted than the 
average Wettiner. 

"While living here I have learned to look upon my 
father's discrowning as a stroke of good luck for, since 
kings can no longer indulge their brutalities against their 
subjects, they turned tyrants at home. 

"If your father did to the humblest of his subjects 
what he did to me, he would be chased from home and 
country. The people, the parliament, his own creatures 
would rise against him and blot his name from the royal 
roster. 

"In the palace, in boudoirs, in the nurseries, he plays 
the prince — extortioner — executioner. To the public he is 
the benign lord, whining for paltry huzzas.'' 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 289 

Frederick Augustus was so dumfounded, he could only 
grind his teeth. 

I continued: "You prate of respect due the Majesty. 
There's nothing to induce feelings of that sort. Round 
me there is naught but weakness, hypocrisy, pettiness. I 
see shame and thievery stalking side by side in these gilded 
halls — gilded for show, but pregnant with woe. 

"Fie on you, Prince Royal, who allows his wife to be 
dogged by spies. Thieves, paid by your father, steal my 
souvenirs; a burglar's kit hidden in their clothes, they 
besiege my writing table. Jailers stand between me and 
my children. 

"My children! 

"Like a she-dog,* whose young were drowned, I cry 
for my babies — I, the Crown Princess of Saxony, who saved 
your family from dying out, a degenerate, depraved, demor- 
alized, decadent race." 

When I had said this and more I fell down and was 
seized by crying convulsions. 

* Queens seem to like this unseemly comparison: 
"Am I a kennel-dog in the estimation of the Bastard of Eng- 
land?" cried Mary of Scots, when Queen Elizabeth refused her 
safe-conduct through England upon her departure from France 
(Summer 1561). 



I 



CHAPTER LVI 

I AM DETERMINED TO DO AS I PLEASE 

I reject mother's tearful reproaches — I beard Prince George in 
his lair despite whining chamberlains — I tell him what 1 
think of him, and he becomes frightened — ^Threatens mad- 
house — "I dare you to steal my children" — I win my point — 
and the children — "Her Imperial Highness regrets" — Lots 
of forbidden literature — Precautions against intriguing Grand 
Mistress — The affair with Henry — was it a flower-covered 
pit to entrap me? — Castle Stolpen and some of its awful 
history. 

Dresden, November 5, 1901. 

Patience ceased to be a virtue. Tolerance would be 
a crime against myself. I am determined to do as I please 
in future. If it upsets the King's, Prince George's and 
the rest's delicate digestion, so much the better. 

The newspapers are hinting about my troubles with 
Prince George and the King. When I go driving or appear 
at the theatre, the public shows its sympathy in many ways. 
Sometimes I am acclaimed to the echo. 

Mamma wrote me a tearful letter. She spent six hours 
in prayers for "sinful Louise" and sends me the fruits 
of her meditations: six pages of close script, advising me 
how to regain the King's and Prince George's favor. 

291 



292 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Never before have I failed in outward respect to my 
mother, but this time I wrote to her: "Pray attend to your 
own affairs. Don't meddle in mine which you are entirely 
unable to understand." 



Dresden, November 6, 1901. 

Bernhardt was sent to Sonnenstein. Whether he became 
insane at Nossen, or whether it is the family's intention 
to drive him mad among the madmen of Sonnenstein, I 
don't know, but it behooves me to be careful. 

Sonnenstein has accommodation for both sexes. 



LoscHwiTZ, November 15, 1901. 

I sent a letter to the King, asking him to have Losch- 
witz Castle prepared for my reception. His Majesty didn't 
deign to answer, but Prince George commanded me in 
writing to stay at Dresden "under his watchful eye." 

I immediately proceeded to his apartments in my morn- 
ing undress, without hat, gloves or wrap. As I rushed 
through the ante-room. Adjutant von Metsch begged me 
with up-lifted hands not to force His Royal Highness's 
door. Prince George being too ill to receive me, etc., etc. 
I paid no attention to his mournful whinings. At that 
moment I had courage enough to stock a regiment. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 293 

"So you won't allow me to go to Loschwitz/' I addressed 
George as I suddenly bobbed up at the side of his desk. 

My father-in-law looked at me as if I were a spook, 
emerged from a locked closet. 

"Who let you in?" he managed to say after a while. 

"I didn't come here to answer questions/' I replied. 
"I came to announce that if you don't let me go to Losch- 
witz, there will be a scandal that will resound all over 
Christendom and make you impossible in your own capital." 

"Why do you want to leave Dresden?" he insisted. 

"Because I want to be alone. Because I am tired of 
hateful faces. Because I refuse to accept orders and insults 
from people that are beneath an Imperial Princess of 
Austria." 

Prince George turned pale. 

"Am I one of those beneath Your Imperial Highness?" 
he queried stupidly. 

"Decidedly so." 

A long pause. Then Prince George shouted : "To the 
devil with you. I don't care whether you stay in Losch- 
witz, or Dresden, or on the Vogelwiese." 

The Vogelwiese is an amusement park, respectable 
enough, but the word or name, as used by George, reeked 
with sinister and insulting meaning. 

Trembling with rage, I replied: "Right royal language 
you royal Saxons use. From time to time, I suppose, you 



294 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

refresh your fish-wife vocabulary in the annals of Augustus 
the Physical Strong, than whom a more gross word-slinger 
did not walk the history of the eighteenth century." 

I believe Prince George was frightened by my violence. 
Assuming a haughty tone he said formdly: "Your 
Imperial Highness is at liberty to travel whenever you 
please, but you will be so good as to leave your children 
in Dresden." 

I stepped up to the white-livered coward and hissed 
in his face: "Steal my children if you dare, and I will go 
to France, or Switzerland and ask a republican President 
to interfere for humanity's sake." 

"And — land yourself in an insane asylum," sneered 
George. 

"An old trick of the Royal House of Saxony, I know," 
I shouted back. "Bernhardt is saner than you, yet the King 
sent him to Sonnenstein. If such a crime had been per- 
petrated by one not a king, he would go to jail." 

Prince George pointed a trembling finger towards the 
door. "Out with you!" he bawled hoarsely. "Out!" 

I stood my ground. "May I take my children? Yes 
or no?" 

He rang the bell and repeated mechanically: "Out with 
you, out!" 

I had another fit of crying convulsions. Doctors, maids 
and lackeys were summoned in numbers. They bedded me 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 295 

on the couch and six men-servants carried me to my apart- 
ments. 

Two days later I went to Loschwitz with my children. 

I had defied the King. Prince George was humbled. 
I carried my point, and the Dresden court will not see me 
again in a hurry. 

* * * 

Loschwitz^ Christmas, 1901. 

I refused to spend Christmas at Court. Frederick 
Augustus planned a stay of a couple of weeks. "Not a 
single night," I wrote back. " 

They parleyed; they begged. "The Crown Prince 
desires to spend Christmas with the children. In the 
interests of public opinion, it's absolutely necessary that he 
does." 

"But not — that I submit to prostitution. I will give 
him a dinner, but he will drive back to Dresden immedi- 
ately afterwards." 

Frederick Augustus brought numerous presents for me. 
"You may place them under the Christmas tree," I ordered 
the Tisch. 

"Oh, Your Imperial Highness, look," cried the Tisch, 
holding up something or other. 

I turned my back on her and looked out of the window. 
I never went near my end of the Christmas table. "You 



296 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

will send the things brought by His Royal Highness to 
the bazaar for crippled children," I told the House Marshal. 
"They shall be sold for the benefit of the poor." 



LoscHwiTZ, January i, 1902. 

"Her Imperial Highness regrets." 

I refused the invitations to today's family dinner; the 
grand reception, Te Deum and parade. "Unprecedented 
affront !" What do I care ! 

I have eighteen horses, half-a-dozen carriages, I drive, 
I ride, I hunt, I give the Tisch palpitation daily by the 
literature I affect: Zola, Flaubert, M'lle Paul, Ma Femme, 
M'lle de Maupin, Casanova, M'me Bovary. And the peri- 
odicals I subscribed for ! Simplicissimus, Harden's Zukunft, 
all the double entendre weeklies and monthlies of Paris. 
May Prince George and Mathilde burst with rage and envy 
when they hear of my excursions in the realms of the literary 

Satans. 

* * * 

LoscHwiTZ^ January 15, 1902. 
The Tisch is beginning to treat me like a person irre- 
sponsible for her doings. Sonnenstein is looming up anew. 
But I am going to fool her. As I will hold no more speech 
with her, there will be no occasion for turning my own 
words against me. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 297 

If I have to give a command, or answer a question, 
I ask Lucretia or Frdulein von Schoenberg to convey m.y 
orders. 

LoscHwiTZ^ March 20, 1902. 

An uneventful winter is drawing to a close. By banish- 
ing myself to this quiet place I raised a barrier against 
quarrels, against harsh orders, against humiliations. And 
the barrier also shuts out: love, happiness. 

Sometimes, when the Tisch's hateful mouth spouts 
honeyed platitudes, I ask myself whether the affair with 
Henry wasn't, after all, a flower-covered pit dug for me 
by my enemies. 

It was the Tisch who had Henry appointed Vortdnzer, 

Maybe, knowing my inflammable heart, she offered the 
tempting bait solely to the end of getting me into her 
power ? 

Far from impossible. 

I curse the day when I entered Dresden, joined this 
court and family. 



LoscHWiTZ, May 15, 1902. 
Royal command to join the court at Pillnitz June i. 
The King, who has been ailing for some time, is anxious 



298 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

to be reunited with the children, and, as a necessary evil, 
I must go along. 

I replied that I would prefer Nossen, or even Stolpen, 
if it pleases His Majesty. 

Castle Stolpen is an old-time stronghold of the bishops 
of Meissen, and its very ruins are pregnant with reminis- 
cences of a barbaric age. The apartments once occupied 
by the Countess Cosel, as a prison first, as a residence 
after the death of Augustus, might be made habitable even 
now. Exceedingly interesting are the old-time torture 
chambers and the subterranean living rooms of the 
"sworn torturer" and the dogs, man-shaped, that served 
him. 

Sanct. Donatus Tower, a wing of the great, black pile, 
was the ancient habitat of these worthies, and the torture 
chamber, still extant, is a hall almost as big as the Dresden 
throne-room. In an inscription hewn in the basalt, the 
sovereign bishop, Johannes VI, poses as builder and seems 
proud of the damnable fact. Other princes of the Church 
let us know in high-sounding Latin script that they created 
the "Monk hole" and the "stairless prison" respectively. 

The latter is a vast subterranean vault, never reached 
by sunshine or light of any kind. Its victims were made 
to descend some twenty feet below the surface of the earth 
on a ladder. When near the bottom, the ladder was pulled 
up and — stayed up. The prisoners were fed once every 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 299 

twenty-four hours, when a leather water pouch and some 
pounds of black bread were sent down on a rope. 

Of course only the strongest got a morsel, or a drink 
of water. The others died of starvation and the survivors 
lived only until there were new arrivals, stronger than 
themselves. The dead bodies were never removed, and 
horrible stories of necrophily smudge the records of this 
awful prison and cover its princely keepers with infamy. 

The "Monk's hole" was called officially "Obey Your 
Judge." It is a sort of chimney, just large enough to take 
the body of a man. 

When a monk or other prisoner refused to confess, 
he was let down into the hole in the wall to starve, while 
tempting dishes, meat, wine and bread, were dangled over 
his head, almost within reach of his hands. 

Of course, after enduring this torture for several days, 
the delinquent was glad enough to "Obey His Judge." 

By offering to go to this abode of horror and to take 
the place of Cosel, I meant to show my utter contempt 
for the royal favor vouchsafed. 



CHAPTER LVII 



I CONFESS TO PAPA 



King Albert dies and King George a very sick man — Papa's 
good advice — "You will be Queen soon" — A lovely old man, 
very much troubled. 

Castle Sibyllenort, June 19, 1902. 

King Albert is dead. George is King, and may God 
have mercy upon my soul. 

Of course the demise of His Majesty changed all my 
plans of defiance and otherwise. I am once more an official 
person, even an important one, for the new King can't last 
long. He is a very sick man, in fact. Perhaps that is the 
reason why he wants to hear himself addressed "Your 
Majesty" all the time. Petty souls like to be called "great." 



Dresden, June 21, 1902. 
I intended to return at once to Loschwitz, but the King, 
hearing of my intention and not wishing to provoke another 
scene, invited my father to come to Dresden "in the interests 
of his daughter." 

301 



302 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

The same evening I received a wire from papa, say- 
ing that he w^ould be in Dresden within twenty-four 
hours. 

My own arrival in the capital was kept secret by the 
King's order, but next afternoon, when I drove to the 
station to welcome my father, I got my reception just the 
same. The people wildly cheered their Crown Princess 
and thousands of sympathizing eyes followed me from the 
palace to the depot. 

I was almost overcome by so much sympathy and when 
at last I saw father, I threw myself on his neck, crying 
aloud. 

The King was standing by, impatiently waiting to con- 
duct his grand-ducal guest before the guard of honor drawn 
up. "Later, later,'' whispered papa, patting me on the 
cheek. 

* * * 

Dresden, June 22, 1902. 

I had an hour's talk with father. I bared my heart 
to him. I reported my own faults along with those of the 
others. 

Papa understands me. He sympathizes with me, but 
help me he cannot. 

"These are only passing shadows," he said. "Look 
boldly into the future. You will soon be Queen." 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 303 

And he told me of his financial difficulties and of the 
misfortune of being a sovereign lord without either land 
or money. 

"The Emperor ordered me to scold you hard," he con- 
tinued, "and mamma wants me to be very severe. As to 
King George, he said he would thank God if I succeeded 
in breaking your rebellious spirit. If you don't, I will,' 
added his Majesty." 

Then father kissed me more lovingly than ever and 
asked, half apologetically: "Is it true, Louise, that you 
had a lover?" 

"I thought I had one, but he was unworthy of me," 
I replied without shame. 

My confession seemed to frighten him. 

"It's sad, sad," he said. "Royal blood is dangerous 
juice. It brought Mary of Scots to the scaffold; it caused 
your great-aunt Marie Antoinette to lose her head, only 
to save the old monarchies a few years later, when we 
inveigled the enemy of legitimate kingship into a marriage 
with another of your relatives. But for Marie, Louise, the 
descendants of the Corsican might still sit on a dozen 
thrones." 

Father forgot his daughter's disgrace when he mounted 
this historic hobby-horse and, needless to say, I did not 
recall the original text. 



304 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Only when, three days later, he took leave of me, 
holding my head long between his two trembling hands 
and kissing me again and again, I felt that the poor, old 
man's heart was oppressed with shame and torn by fears. 



CHAPTER LVIII 

MONSIEUR GIRON — RICHARD, THE ARTIST 

The King asks me to superintend lessons by M. Giron — A most 
fascinating man — His Grecian eyes — He is a painter as well 
as a teacher — In love — Careless whether I am caught in my 
lover's arms — "Richard" talks anarchy to me — Why I don't 
believe in woman suffrage — Characters and doings of women 
in power. 

Dresden, July i, 1902. 

King George is determined I shall stay in Dresden 
to end the newspaper talk about trouble in the bosom of 
the royal family. 

He engaged a new head-tutor for my little brood. 
Monsieur Giron, a Belgian of good family. 

"I would be pleased if you attended the children's 
lessons and reported to me on the method of the new man," 
he said. "You are so intellectual, Louise, you will find 
out quickly if M. Giron is not what he is represented 
to be." 

I promised, for, after all, I owed so much to the King 

and my children. 

Alas, it was fate! 

* * * 

305 



306 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Dresden^ July i, After Midnight, 

He is tall, well made, and his wild, Grecian eyes fas- 
cinate me. He is conscious of self, but modest. His voice 
is sweet and sonorous, his eyes are bright with intellect. 
Speaking eyes ! 

I asked him to visit my apartments at the conclusion 
of school hours. He told me he was a painter as well as 
a teacher of languages. 

"Would you like to paint me?" 

"I am dying for a chance to reproduce your loveliness 
as far as my poor art permits." 

He told me he had a studio in town, where he is known 
under his artist's pseudonyme, Richard. 

"How romantic! I'd like to see it," I said impulsively. 

"Several ladies and gentlemen of society sat for por- 
traits at my studio here and at home." 

In short we arranged that he paint my picture and 
that I should go to his studio, where the light is excellent. 



Dresden^ July 15, 1902. 

T am happy once more. Those hours at Richard's 
studio are the sweetest of my life. 

Lucretia acts the protecting angel as usual. Richard 
calls her Justice because she is "blind." When she is 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 307 

along, I drive boldly up to the door in one of the court 
carriages. Sometimes, when I can sneak out of the palace 
for a little while unobserved, I go alone in a cab. 

How long this sort of thing can go on without dis- 
covery, I know not. As to what will happen afterwards, 
I care not. 

If I was told that tomorrow I would be caught in my 
lover's arms and banished to a lone island for life, I would 
go to his studio just the same. 



Dresden^ August i, 1902. 

Richard is moulding my character. I, once so proud 
of rank and station, I, who upheld the Wettiners' robbery 
of a poor, defenseless woman, the Duke's wife, because 
Socialistic papers spoke in her favor, — Louise now allows 
anarchistic tendencies to be poured in her ears. She almost 
applauds them. 

This easy change from one extreme to the other at a 
lover's behest is one of the things that make woman's rule 
— or co-rule — as the male's political equal — impossible. It's 
a sort of Phallus worship that always was and always 
will be. 

"Though women have not unfrequently been the holders 
of temporary and precarious power, there are not many 
instances where they have held secure and absolute domin- 



308 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

ion/' says Dr. William W. Ireland in his famous "Blot 
upon the Brain." 

Because they were swayed by the male of the species, 
of course ! 

Though the characters of the world's female sover- 
eigns differed as to blood, race, education, environment 
and personal traits, neither showed any inclination to resist 
the allurements of irregular amours. 

Think of Semiramis, of Mary of Scots, of Elizabeth, 
Catherine I, of the Tsaritzas Elizabeth and the second 
Catherine — under the temptations of Power, they recruited 
paramours for themselves in all ranks of society. 

Agrippina was more licentious than Caligula; Messa- 
lina's infamy surpassed Nero's, and the furthest reaching, 
the one irresistible Power swaying them all was MAN. 

Augustus of the three hundred and fifty-four emphasized 
this in the negative and, in his own uncouth way, by "poster- 
ing" the Countess Cosel's chief charm on penny coins. 

"She cost Saxony twenty millions in gold — ^behold the 
penny's worth she gave in return." 

When the beauty who had brought the richest German 
kingdom to the verge of state bankruptcy died February 2, 
1765, four hundred of Augustus's infamous medals were 
found hidden in her favorite armchair. She paid three or 
four times their weight in gold for each. 



: 



CHAPTER LIX 

THE PEOPLE THINK ME A WANTON 

Credit me with innumerable lovers, but don't disapprove — Glad 
the King feels scandalized — Picture of the "she-monster" — 
Everybody eager for love — I delight m Richard's jealousy — 
Husband's indelicate announcement at table — I rush from the 
royal opera to see my lover — A threatening dream — Richard 
not mercenary like my noble lovers. 

Dresden^ August lo, 1902. 

This is the kind of speech Richard holds with me and — I 
enjoy: 

"Every working-girl, every poor woman who suckles 
her own children and helps her husband in the fight for exist- 
ence, stands mountain high above royal ladies like you. 

"None of you royal ladies are their moral equals. 

"In no distant time," he says, "they will chase you from 
your thrones, even as your relatives had to evacuate France 
by tumbril, post-chaise or train." 

Richard's ethical and intellectual valuation of royal 
princes coincides with my own. He has rare insight into 
our family life. 

However, these disclosures both amazed and alarmed 
309 



310 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

me when I first heard them pronounced. I never dreamt 
that Opinions of that kind prevailed among the masses. 

"But why am I acclaimed whenever I show myself?" 

"Because you are pretty, because you impersonate the 
one thing all are desirous to embrace: affluence, kindness, 
youth and beauty. Because you are a treat to the senses 
and because sensuality is the paramount thing in life, 
whether we admit it or not." 

"Who's 'we'?" 

"Kings and anarchists, princesses of the Blood and laun- 
dresses, royal princes and cab drivers, empresses, street- 
walkers, society ladies, big-wigs and sabretasches. The 
draggled Menads and the helpful Lafayette, the Jacobins, 
Charlotte Corday and the man she killed — all were, and are, 
on similar pleasure bent." 

And he added quickly: "As to the Dresdeners, they 
are tickled because, every time they applaud you, the King 
is scandalized." 

"How do they know that I am not on good terms with 
the King?" 

"The very children in arms understand." 

All Dresden, says Richard, is talking about me. Every- 
body assumes to know the number and qualities of my lovers. 
"Louise," they argue, "knows how to enjoy herself, but, 
though it serves the King right, we wouldn't have her for a 
daughter-in-law, either." 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 3II 

According to the masses, I visit the Vogelwiese at 
night, ride on the flying horses and solicit men and boys that 
please my fancy. Like a gigantic she-monster, I drag them 
to my lair — "some to vanish forever." (No doubt, I eat 
them.) 

"Unwashed soldiers and clerks reeking with cheap 
perfume, actors and students, draymen and generals, it's all 
the same to the Crown Princess. 

"Sometimes, when the spirit moves her, the Crown Prin- 
cess issues from her gilded apartments in the palace and 
seizes the sentinel patrolling the corridors. Or she visits 
the guard-room en deshabille and selects the youngest and 
best looking officer for her prey. 

"Generous, too. She thinks nothing of handing a pen- 
sion of ten thousand marks per year to a chap that pleased 
her once." 

"Is that all they say about me?" 

"Not one-half. Poor devils that can't afford ten marks 
per year for their fun, Cifs wives that know only their ill- 
kempt husbands, factory girls that sell their virtue for a 
supper or a glass of beer — though afterwards they claim 
it was champagne — all take delight in contemplating that 
you, or any other good looking royal woman, are Franken- 
stein's succuba or worse. Didn't they accuse your grand- 
aunt, Marie Antoinette, of incest with her son and gave 
him to the cobbler to thrash the immorality out of him ?" 



312 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"And they give names ?" 

"Strings of them" — among them several I never heard 

mentioned before. 

* * * 

Dresden, August 15, 1902. 

Richard is jealous^ — jealous of the men I did love and 
the regiments that public opinion give me credit for. He 
must needs think I have loins of steel. 

He tells me he suffers agonies by what I confessed, 

and still more by what I hide. To see him thus unhappy 

gives me intense pleasure, for it shows that the boy loves 

me to distraction. 

Midnight. 

M. Giron was very cold and distant during the after- 
noon's lessons. 

I had previously lunched with him at his studio and 
we were very gay then. I teased him unmercifully about 
"his royal demi-mondaine '' as the masses painted me. 

Frederick Augustus was very gallant at dinner and told 
me, before a table full of people, that he would take pleasure 
in sleeping with me tonight. I have too bad a conscience 
to deny myself to him. But I ran over to the opera for half 
an hour and ordered M. Giron to my box. 

"I got over my vexation," he said, — "got over it because 
I reflected that you are the Princess Royal and that I would 
be a fool to take your love seriously. Henceforth I will 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 313 

regard it a passing adventure and let it go at that, for if I 
thought it the great passion of my life, I would despair, 
indeed." 

"Find a closed cab," I whispered, my heart in my mouth ; 
"I must see you alone. I will be at the northern side-exit 
in five minutes." 

Cabby was ordered to drive slowly along unfrequented 
side streets. We lowered the curtains. 

"So you don't love me ?" I wailed. Burying my face on 
Richard's chest I cried as if my heart would break. 

"Not love you?" he breathed. "If I loved you not, I 
would die, Louise." 

"Then why those cruel words?" 

"Good heavens," he cried, "haven't I the right to be 
jealous? I said what I said to hear you say that you love 
me. 

"And you will always love me?" 

"Always, dearest," and he covered my face and neck 
with burning kisses. 

Ten minutes later I was again seated at the opera. 

I hear Frederick Augustus in the corridor. 

* * * 

Dresden, August i6, 1902. 
A horrible night. Lucky that Frederick Augustus was 
more than half drunk when he sought "His Imperial Pleas- 



314 ' THE STORY OF LOUISE 

ure-trove," as he likes to call me, for I often talk in my 
sleep and — I dreamt of Richard. I dreamt of my enemies, 
too. 

They stole him from me. He was of the past like 
Henry, Romano and the rest. 

In a second dream he jilted me — cast me off like a 
garment, old or out of fashion. 

Lucretia, who sleeps in the next room, heard me cry 
out in terror, heard me denounce the King, Tisch — every- 
body. 

And Frederick Augustus snored. 

* * * 

Dresden, October i, 1902. 

Princes and noblemen have ever sought their own ad- 
vantage of me. To them I was always the milch-cow, or 
Phryne, outright. 

Richard is poor. I offered him a considerable sum for 
one of his paintings. 

"Never again mention the matter," he said curtly. 

"But it would give me much pleasure to be of assist- 
ance to you." 

"Louise, we must separate if you don't stop that line of 
talk," he replied. 

And he means it. 

A day or two later I let fall, casually, that Frederick 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 315 

Augustus might buy the portrait of myself that was nearing 
completion under his skillful brush. 

"His Royal Highness won't have the chance," he cried 
fiercely. "I will tell him it isn't finished, or doesn't come 
up to my artistic standard, or something of the sort." 



CHAPTER LX 

THE DAY OF JUDGMENT LOOMS UP 

My Grand Mistress shows her colors — Richard advises flight — I 
hesitate on account of my children — My Grand Mistress 
steals a letter from Richard to me — I opine that an adul- 
teress's word is as good as a thiefs — I humble my Grand 
Mistress, but it won't do me much good — Pleasant hours at 
his studio. 

Dresden^ October 15, 1902. 

That dreadful dream is becoming a heart-breaking 
reality. 

The Tisch entered my boudoir last night in her man- 
tilla, emblem of her office as Grand Mistress. 

Some dirty business on hand, I surmised at once. 

*Tmperial Highness/' she said, genuflexing ceremoni- 
ously, "I submit that your artist takes too long about the 
portrait. Your Imperial Highness's visits to the studio must 
cease." 

"Since when do you give orders here, Baroness?'' 

"His Majesty empowered me," answered the Grand 
Dame. 

'Tn that case, do as you like, but don't bother me," I 

317 



3l8 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

cried bravely enough, but trembling in every limb. The 
Tisch, no doubt, is preparing to deal me another blow. 

When I told Richard that henceforth we would have to 
exercise extra care, he was beside himself with rage. 

"Why stand such tyranny ?'* he cried. "No self-respect- 
ing woman, other than royal, would submit for a single week 
to be bullied and intrigued against and threatened and brow- 
beaten as you are, and they have ill-used you for eleven 
years. If you were a simple Cit's daughter, instead of the 
descendant of a decrepit, bloodless family, yclept royal, you 
would make an end now, leave them to their shabby king- 
ship and be a free woman — free and happy.'' 

My lover forgets the children, but the picture of the 
free life he draws is most attractive. 

"And would you go with me to the end of the earth, as 
the story books put it?" I asked tremblingly. 

"Louise," he answered, "if you are brave enough and 
strong enough to throw away a crown, I will be your slave 
for life." 

* * * 

Dresden^ October 20, 1902. 

"Your Imperial Highness was pleased to call me a thief 

once," said the Tisch early this morning as she entered my 

boudoir, triumph written all over her yellow countenance. 

"You repeated that calumny to the Prince Royal and doubt- 



■ 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 3I9 

less to many other persons. Today came the opportunity 
to live up to my reputation. I stole a letter addressed to you 
by your present lover, and as Your Imperial Highness is 
pleased to doubt my authority, immediately sent it to His 
Majesty. It makes highly interesting reading." 

The blow made my knees tremble, but pain and rage 
came to my assistance, effacing the momentary weakness. 

"Don't think for a moment to frighten me," I cried. "I 
say to your face that I have a lover — a gentleman, not an 
unspeakable, like your nephew. And now listen: I will 
tell the King and the press of Europe, if it must be, that 
it was you, my Grand Mistress, who 'pandered' me to Henry 
— for — revenue. I will have him whipped out of the 
army " 

*'You don't suppose for a moment that the word of an 
adulteress would prove acceptable either to His Majesty or 
anyone else?" hissed the insolent creature. 

"My word will be accepted all around," I shouted back, 
"for I have the proofs, proofs that you smuggled this un- 
speakable into my household, proofs that you lied to the 
King in order not to disrupt your nephew's career. 

"And I will cry from the house-tops that you discov- 
ered my relations with Henry only after I had paid his 
debts, after 1 had financed his excursions to gambling-houses 
and to usurers' dens. Ah, I paid his tailors and glove- 
makers, his board and lodging, his laundry bills. I paid the 



320 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

alimony due his strumpets, and after all was done, after his 
lieutenantship had again a clean bill of health, financially 
speaking, then, and not a moment before, did you step in 
and make an end of the farce, wherein I played the part of 
'angel,' or pay-master." 

The Tisch got visibly smaller under my lash. The air 
of triumph she bore when entering the room gave way to 
an expression of despair. If she hadn't sent the letter to the 
King, I believe she would have given it up after I was half 
through with her. 

Once more I hold the whip hand, but what good will 
it do me since I am condemned to lose the man I love? 



Midnight, 

Richard approved of all I said and did. We were un- 
speakably happy this afternoon, despite the storm threaten- 
ing us. 

I fear neither the King nor Frederick Augustus now, 
but the fear of Sonnenstein I can't shake off. 

If the King takes it upon himself to say that I'm mad, 
there will be plenty of medical authorities to bear him out, 
none to oppose him. 

Of course, they will separate me from my children and 
will do their utmost to drive me mad between now and the 
time when I should be proclaimed Queen. 



CHAPTER LXI 

A MAD HOUSE FOR LOUISE — PROBABLY 

My confidential maid, Lucretia, is banished — The new King has 
got the incriminating letter, but Frederick Augustus says 
nothing — On the eve of judgment the King falls ill. 

Dresden, October 21, 1902. 

This morning, at six, Lucretia rushed into my room. 
She was in her night-gown. Her hair was loose. No color 
in her face. 

And between sobs and curses she told me that she had 
orders to leave by ten sharp. "If you dare stay over the 
appointed time, you will be transported to the frontier on 
foot, between gendarmes." 

"Von Baumann shall come." 

I threw a loose wrapper over my night-gown and 
received him at once. 

"My marriage contract provides that no one but I have 
the right of dismissal with respect to Countess Baranello," 
I said sharply. 

"As long as the lady keeps within the law," replied 
Baumann with just a trace of insolence in his voice. 

I looked at him in astonishment. 
321 



322 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"The Countess is guilty of a crime, of a succession of 
crimes," continued Baumann, "but His Majesty, not wishing 
to be harsh, decided to treat her merely as an obnoxious 
foreigner. She has forfeited her right to live in Saxony, 
and will do well to obey/' 

I helped poor Lucretia pack. I gave her a handful of 
jewels, I paid her a year's salary in advance and ordered 
the treasury to procure first-class passage for her to Rome. 

I sent her to the station in my own carriage, and wired 
to our Rome representative to show her every courtesy. 

Afternoon. 

Frederick Augustus hasn't said a word to me about the 
affair with Richard. We have our meals together and his 
attitude in no wise differs from that usually maintained. 
Yet I am convinced he knows. 

The last service rendered me by Lucretia, gave me 
great relief. She found out that neither the Tisch, nor 
Frederick Augustus, nor the King know who "Richard" is. 
Fortunately his letter was typewritten, signature and all. 

* * * 

Six o'clock. 

The King announced his visit for eight o'clock. 

* * * 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 323 

Nine o'clock. 
The King had a fall in his apartments shortly after 

he sent me notice of his coming. He was unconscious for 

two hours. 

Safe for the time being ! 



I 



CHAPTER LXII 

KING^S ILLNESS A BOON TO LOVERS 

Prayers mixed with joy — Espionage disorganized, and I can do as 
I please — Love-making in the school-room — Buying a ring 
for Richard — "Wishing it on" — "Our marriage" — King's life 
despaired of — My tormentors obsequious — Smile at my pec- 
cadilloes — Husband proud of me — My popularity a great as- 
set — Frederick Augustus delighted when he hears that King 
can't last long — The joyous luncheon at Richard's studio — 
Making fun of majesties — I expect to be Queen presently. 

Dresden^ October 22, 1902. 

He is dangerously ill. It may be weeks and months be- 
fore the King recovers — if he recovers at all. 

I feel like praying, crying, shouting with joy. 

When Richard folded his arms about me this afternoon, 
I said to myself: "God doesn't begrudge me a lover as 
kind and good as Richard." 

The King's illness has disorganized the espionage, my 
coming and going are no longer controlled. The body- 
groom brings in my letters as delivered at the gate. 

In the school room, while the children are writing or 
studying, Richard and I find time to exchange kind words 
and even an occasional caress. When I "command'* the 
tutor to my apartments, we need fear no surprise. 

325 



326 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

The utmost quiet prevails in the palace. The courtyard 
is sanded foot high and strewn with straw to deaden the 
sound of wheels and horses' hoofs. No more mounting of 
the guard with fife and drum. 

I suggested that the children be sent to the Grosser 
Oarten to play. The Tisch agreed with enthusiasm. This 
yields us — Richard and myself — two hours of love-making. 



Dresden, October 25, 1902. 

The King continues ill. 

I went into a cheap jeweler's this afternoon and bought 
an inexpensive ring with a ruby no larger than a pin head. 
When I gave it to Richard, he grew red with joy. 

Strange, he bought a similar ring for me. I shall never 
wear another ring in my life but Richard's. I pulled my 
rings off one after the other and threw them on the bed. 

I kissed the larger ring and "wished" it on Richard's 
finger. He did the same with the ring intended for me. 
And we said, as with a common breath, "Our wedding." 



Dresden^ November i, 1902. 
A bulletin, by the King's physicians, holds out scant 
hopes for George's life. 

I am watching the palace yard. The Archbishop of 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 327 

Dresden, attended by two court chaplains and a host of other 
clerics, is just mounting the stairs to administer the last 
rites of the Church. The next minute may see me Queen 
of Saxony. I may even be Queen now. I wish I had the 
effrontery to promise the lackey or official, announcing my 
enthronization, a handful of gold, as George did, when 
King Albert was dying. 

Even so, I have risen immeasurably in everybody's 
esteem. The sweet family knows me again. Johann George, 
Mathilde, Isabelle and Max are kotowing to me. Bernhardt 
sent me a telegram of condolence — condolence! He is a 
humorist, that boy. 

Minister of the Royal House, Baron Seydwitz, called 
twice. The Royal Adjutant, General von Carlo witz, spoke 
of the possibility of giving Bernhardt a command in Dres- 
den. Von Baumann says it was the President of the Police 
who insisted upon Lucretia's hasty departure. If he, Bau- 
mann, had his way, my maid of honor would have got off 
with a warning. 

And you should see the Tisch. She must have spent 
a month's salary on flowers for me, which I promptly sent 
to the nearest pauper hospital. She smiles, she nearly breaks 
her back genuflexing. Her every second word is "most 
submissive," "will the Imperial Highness deign to do this," 
that, or the other thing. 

The terror got into her old bones and she trembles for 



328 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

her pension, for, of course, she knows that instant dismissal 
will be her portion. ^^| 

Frederick Augustus talks of having some more princes 
and — acts accordingly. Perish the thought that his Louise 
is an adulteress, that she ever had a lover, has one now ! 

He is haunting my room, running from door to win- 
dow, from window to door. Every little while he opens the 
portieres to see if no one's coming to address him "Your 
Majesty." 

"Your popularity with the public is a great asset," he 
says over and over again. "Lucky devil I, to have a wife as 
smart as you." 

♦ * * 

Dresden^ November 2, 1902. 

Frederick Augustus came running into my room and 
gave me a bear-hug. 

"The doctors say the King is lost. Impossible to keep 
him alive any longer." 

He rushed out. 

I am Queen. 

* * * 

After Lunch, 
Just back from Richard's studio. We had lunch to- 
gether. We laughed, we danced, we sang. We bombarded 
one another with pillows. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 329 

We acted^the jubilant heirs. I recalled Sybillenort at 
the time King Albert died. In Saxony, when man or woman 
shuffles off this mortal coil, there's always a good "feed" 
at the corpse's expense. At the late King's castle a "mourn- 
ing breakfast" was served upon the royal family's arrival 
from Dresden — a most magnificent repast in the matter 
of plate and victuals offered, but each had to serve himself 
or herself, as servants were dispensed with. 

This by the new King's special orders — that he might 
hear himself addressed "Your Majesty" by his kith and kin, 
a formality usually neglected in the family circle except 
when two or more of the big-wigs are warring against each 
other. 

"Will Your Majesty have one or two lumps of sugar?" 

"May it please Your Majesty — some steak?" 

"I hope Your Majesty will allow me to peel an orange 
for Your Majesty." 

Thus at Sybillenort. And at Richard's: 

"Will Your Greatness (Majesty) deign to take Your 
Greatness's feather out of my eye?" 

Or: "May it never please Your Transparency {Durch- 
laucht, German for Highness) to let His Greatness see 
through you." 

I am several times a Countess besides a Princess, 
Duchess, etc., and Richard continued with his paraphrasing 
of titles : 



330 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

"Your Illuminatedness* makes lights quite unnecessary/' 
and he switched them off in a room already darkened by 
blinds and shades and curtains. 

* "Illuminated" is the proper title for German counts of the 
higher class. 



CHAPTER LXIII 

WHAT I WILL DO WHEN I AM QUEEN 

A foretaste : titled servants put me en route for lover — The bar- 
gain I will propose to Frederick Augustus — Frederick Augus- 
tus will be a complaisant King — To revive Petit Trianon — I 
am addressed as Queen. 

Dresden^ November 3, 1902. 

Though still styled Crown Princess, I am already revel- 
ling in the delights and perquisites of queenship: I do as I 
please, go where I please, I would think aloud, as I please, if 
anyone dared me. 

For all my enemies of a week ago turned flatterers and 
flunkeys, bowing, grovelling, fawning, contemptible in their 
self-abasement, but quite useful to my purposes. 

Like most royal palaces, ours at Dresden has a secret 
staircase and exit for emergencies. It is never used by 
ladies; only the princes have recourse to it, occasionally, to 
drop out of sight in mufti, for, of course, royal incognito is 
more or less legitimate. 

"In the evening, after our card party was over, Cather- 
ine was seen to dismiss her court and retire to her private 
apartments with the new favorite," say the Secret Memoirs 
of the Court of St. Petersburg. 

331 



33^ THE STORY OF LOUISE 

Less publicly, perhaps, but even more illegitimately, I 
walk the secret staircase en route for my lover whenever 
I please nowadays. 

I go veiled and — make the Grand Mistress open the 
door for me. She knows that I am on sweet pleasure bent 
and — smiles. 

*'When will Your Imperial Highness deign to return?'* 

I name the hour and she is there to receive me — smirk- 
ing, blind, deaf and dumb. 

A foretaste of my queenship paradise! No one will 
boss me, no one will dare talk about me, everything I do will 
be good, even sublime. 

I made up my mind as to Frederick Augustus. 

"Frederick Augustus,'' I will say to him, "now that we 
are King and Queen, let's enjoy to the full the thing's emolu- 
ments; otherwise, what's the use? You will allow me to 
go my way and I will certainly shut both eyes as to your 
doings, even if you follow in the footsteps of your name- 
sake of the three-hundred-and-fifty-two." 

Of course, I will say it differently, but my husband will 
understand. The main thing: the royal family and court 
must stop hurling at me the long, watery haussez les mains 
of narrow-minded, provincial inquisitiveness, which both op- 
presses and goads me. 

Frederick Augustus has too much respect for the kingly 
dignity to impugn his partner, the Queen. 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 333 

Will I revive, then, the seraglios of the Russian Anns 
and Elizabeths, or start a new Pare aux Cerfs with strong 
men and Marathon winners for inmates? Thank you, a 
miniature Petit Trianon will be good enough for me. 

The Tisch entered a minute ago and respectfully re- 
mains at the door, though she sees I am engaged on my 
Diary. I watch her in the mirror. She would travel bare- 
foot to Kevlaar, of which Heinrich Heine sung, for a glimpse 
of what I wrote. Her variegated grimaces give her the 
appearance of a carved wooden devil, sprinkled with holy 
water. 

At last I deign to inquire: "What is it, Baroness?" 

"The Crown Prince wants to see Your Imperial High- 
ness. May he come in?'' 

"Since when does my husband send you to announce 
him?" 

"Pardon, Your Imperial Highness, I meant Prince 
George." 

Designating my first-born Prince Royal, means recog- 
nizing me as Queen. 

And, but ten days ago, this same viper refused to ad- 
dress me by my proper title. 



CHAPTER LXIV 

THE KING IS ALIVE AND PUNISHMENT NEAR 

My queenship postponed — King George publicly acclaimed — 
Cuts me dead in church — Frederick Augustus's disappoint- 
ment — Terrible power of a king over his family, and no ap- 
peal — I am like the nude witch of old. 

Dresden^ November lo, 1902. 

The King has taken nourishment. The King will not 
die — he will live and punish me. Still, I must not complain. 
I had a respite and Richard says, "when one rises from the 
dead, one is less inclined to be severe with the living." But 
he grew rather despondent immediately. 

^^La liberie est une garce, qui ne se laisse monter que sur 

des matelas des cadavres humainsr he quoted Comte Mira- 

beau. Our corpse was alive, our liberty is dead for the time 

being. 

* * * 

Dresden, November 15, 1902. 

The King went driving this morning and I am told that 

he came home well pleased, for there was lusty cheering 

along the line. Frederick Augustus hasn't mentioned my 

affair at all. Disappointment made him rather gloomy and 

335 



336 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

he begins to treat me again in the right royal Saxon fashion : 
I am air for His Highness. 

After Supper, 
The family will wait upon His Majesty in a body to- 
morrow, to congratulate him on his recovery. After that, 
Te Deum in the cathedral, which the court and authorities 
must attend by command. 

''Your Imperial Highness's pew will be in readiness, 
but my sublime master has not deigned to graciously an- 
nounce that he wishes to receive Your Imperial Highness," 
— this from the toad Baumann, who but yesterday licked my 
boots. 

Dresden^ November 16, 1902. 

Another straw indicating the direction of the wind — the 
ill-wind. 

King George commanded Bernhardt to be madman no 
longer and come and live in Dresden. Since his arrival he 
has paid assiduous court to all members of the royal family, 
but me. He called on the royal ministers, the courtiers, the 
high civil authorities, but my apartments have seen him not. 
I don't blame the boy for making the best of the situation, 
but was it really necessary to offer gratuitous insult to the 
only relative that stood by him when in trouble? 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 337 

Doubtless, he took his cue from the King, who cut me 
dead while, with the rest, I thanked God for his recovery. 



November 20, 1902. 

The Tisch is openly talking Sonnenstein. "The royal 
apartments are ready for her reception,'' she let fall yes- 
terday. 

Old Andrew, my confidential servant, told me. 

She shows me the face of a bull-dog about to spring 
at a victim, a sea-green devil filled with vinegar and gall, 
but affects icy courtesy. 

Frederick Augustus is down in the mouth. If he knows 
of any evil intention against me, he evidently made up his 
mind to hold his tongue and avoid scenes. 

Richard keeps on saying: *'Don't worry. After all, 
what can they do to you?'' He doesn't know, or doesn't 
want to understand that, while the law holds out protection 
for all, from pedlars and vagabonds to and including prime 
ministers, royalty itself is only technically above the law; 
in praxis we are beyond the benefits of all law, human and 
otherwise. 

To be sure, a Cit is sometimes unjustly treated, but with 
tenacity and a small amount of courage, he finds his remedy 
in the courts and in the press. 

To royal princes and princesses the King is both judge 



33^ THE STORY OF LOUISE 

and executioner, as the cases of the Duke of Saxony and 
Bernhardt show. Maybe it pleases His Majesty to cloak his 
tyranny by convoking a commission, but what of it, since 
the commission is invariably made up of his creatures, 
trained, if not commanded, to do the all-highest will and 
nothing but the all-highest will? 

As in days gone by, the poor "witch" — if she be young 
and comely — must face her accusers naked, the sworn tor- 
turer at her elbow, so I have no standing in law or decency 
before the Powers over social life or death in our sphere 
of society. 

If there be blemishes in my character, the King sees 
them magnified by the sharp tongues of evil creatures, his 
spies. There is no privacy. I must submit to be stared at, 
to have my flesh lacerated by curious eyes, and, as in the case 
of the old-time "witches," the handsomest were condemned 
the quicker because "the devil was more liable to choose 
them for an abode than ugly ones," so my very beauty will 
hasten my destruction. 



CHAPTER LXV 

FISTICUFFS don't SAVE MY CROWN 

The attempted theft of my Diary — Grand Mistress discovered 
after breaking open my desk — Reading Diary like mad — Per- 
sonal encounter between me and Grand Mistress — I am the 
stronger, and carry off the manuscript, but have to leave all 
my love letters, which go to the King — I discover that they 
had stolen the key to my Diary from my neck. 

Dresden^ November 27, 1902. 
I am undone. 

They tried to obtain a picture of Louise in the nude-^ 
Louise as she paints Herself — this Diary, in fact — and, 
though I foiled them, the King now has in his hands my 
entire correspondence — every letter from every man that 
ever approached or possessed me. 

And be sure he won't use them for curl papers as did 
the Duke of Richelieu with the remnants of his ladyloves' 
billets doux that escaped confiscation. 

"My collection is incomplete. I have to begin another," 
he said. 

Alas, my collection was only too complete! 

This is how it came about : 
339 



340 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

As I was in the act of retiring last night, a clairvoyant's 
vision seized me. "Somebody meddling with your papers !" 
"They are breaking into your secretaire" the voices said. 

I slipped on a pair of bath sandals and stealthily opened 
the door of my boudoir. 

My writing desk was open, all the drawers ajar and in 
disorder; the Baroness bending over this, my Diary. She 
was reading like mad, her eyes danced with lust of re- 
venge. 

With one bound I was at her side and she was so fright- 
ened at first, I thought she would drop. Her chest seemed 
to draw inward; she swayed to and fro. But only for a 
second or two. Then, recovering her self-possession, her 
fighting harness was in place again. 

"Go to your room. Royal Highness," she said in a tone 
of command. "These papers are confiscated in the name 
of the King." 

I was beside myself with rage. "My Diary," I cried; 
"instantly return it to me." 

More I couldn't say, for I had neither breath nor voice. 
My right hand was on the book when she attempted to 
seize it. 

I struck her hand with Richard's ring — I wish it was 
bigger, I wish it had a good diamond point — but she wouldn't 
let go. Then, before one could count one, two, three, I had 
hold of her — Heaven, how I enjoyed it; the satisfaction I 



CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 34I 

had in giving rein to my passion, for all was up now, any- 
how. 

With the left hand I caught her by the throat, while my 
good right boxed her ears after the homely manner mamma 
had taught me. Good, sound cuffs, I assure you, each liable 
to dislocate a tooth. 

"Canaille'' I cried, ''miserable canaille." I pushed her 
into a corner and recovered the Diary, folding it up quickly. 
I was holding the book close to my bosom when I crossed 
the room to regain my bedchamber. 

The Tisch after me, trying to snatch it back. I caught 
her on the chest and sent her flying. Then, with the manu- 
script, I made good my escape, leaving for the contemptible 
bird of prey all my love letters, reams of them, the oldest 
fifteen or more years old, the latest bearing yesterday's 
date. 

Once in my room, I recollected and made a grab at my 
throat. The key to my Diary was gone. They stole it, 
chain and all, while I was asleep, no doubt. 



Dresden, November 28, 1902. 

Awakening, I find myself seated at the little table near 
the window. Both my hands are ink-spotted. So is my 
night-dress. 

I see, I have written an account of the battle. I must 



342 



THE STORY OF LOUISE 



have done so some time after I returned from the field. It's 
well, for at the moment, I don't remember a thing. 

The palace clock strikes seven. 

The day of my doom. 



CHAPTER LXVI 



ABANDONED 



My titled servants withdraw from me — An old footman my sole 
support — Queen takes the children — Old Andrew plays spy 
for me. 

Afternoon. 

No one has come to see me. My household, my adju- 
tants, marshal, chamberlains, equerries, the ladies of my 
entourage are on duty, but since I ordered my meals brought 
to the room, they pretend to assume that I'm too ill to see 
anyone. There may be no truth in the saying that rats leave 
the ship destined to sink, but the titled vermin royalty sur- 
rounds itself with certainly knows when to avoid dangerous 
craft. 

I rang for Andrew. The good, old man wouldn^t put 
me to the humiliation of asking questions. 

"Your Imperial Highnesses children are with Her 
Majesty," he said; and, coming a step nearer, he added in 
an undertone: "Baroness Tisch has been with His Majesty 
since nine in the morning." 

"You are a kind and brave man." I held out my hand. 

"If Your Imperial Highness has no immediate orders 
343 



344 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

for me/' continued the good soul, "I beg to be allowed to 
visit my friend, Hans, the King's body-servant." 

I thanked Andrew for his good intentions. "Wait in 
the ante-chamber until I am dressed.'' 

I donned a forty-mark costume that I keep on hand 
for the purpose; it didn't take me more than six or seven 
minutes. 

"I will have to leave by the secret staircase, Andrew." 

He understood and cleared the way for me. 



CHAPTER LXVII 



FAMILY COUNCIL AT CASTLE 



Rendezvous at studio — State takes my children from me — Mad- 
house or flight — I brought fifty-two trunks to the palace — 
Depart with small satchel — If I attempt to see my children 
ril be seized as "mad woman" — Varying emotions of the 
last ten minutes — Threatening shadows thrown on a curtain 
decide me — Ready for flight — Diary the last thing to go into 
the satchel. 

At Night. Eleven O'clock. 

They went into family council at six to-night and are 
still deliberating, Andrew reports. The Tisch, he says, acts 
as secretary; His Majesty, of course, presides. 

Present are the Dowager Queen, Mathilde and Isabelle. 
Then Frederick Augustus, Johann George, Max and Bern- 
hardt. Baron George von Metzsch, a high government and 
court functionary and my enemy, attends as legal adviser to 
the King. 

It's in the nature of things that the Baron will do his 
worst to destroy me, but Bernhardt! Bernhardt, who held 
me in his arms, now one of my judges ! He will have to be 
especially severe with his quondam mistress lest the King 
suspect. 

345 



346 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

While the sweet family bent over those love letters — I 
bet the Tisch withheld Henry's — I sat in Richard's studio, 
advising with him. 

"There are only two things to be considered : the mad- 
house or instant flight." 

"You dare advise me to leave my children?" 

"There are no nurseries in mad-houses. Your children 
are lost to you, anyhow. If you remain, as an alleged in- 
sane person, you 'can't be trusted,' they'll argue, for you 
are helpless, legally, morally and physically. 

"If you run away to Switzerland, on the other hand, 
you are a free woman, under the protection of a republican 
government. 

"Switzerland, I needn't tell you, will not go to war to 
wrest your children from the royal family, but will afford 
you personally every advantage, legal and otherwise. 

"Decide quickly : are you going to make King George a 

present of yourself as well as of the five children you bore 

for the benefit of the Wettiners?" 

"Never." 

* ♦ * 

My mind is made up. My few belongings are packed. 
I, who came to Dresden with fifty-two trunks, leave the pal- 
ace with a satchel, easy to carry. I take nothing but my 
personal jewels, the little money I own and some changes 
of linen. 






CROWN PRINCESS OF SAXONY 347 

If I could only see my children for a moment or two, 
but the Que m has them in her keeping, and I might be 
seized as a "mad woman" if I dared leave my apartments 
and c.xoss to those occupied by Her Majesty. 

And Frederick Augustus ! He will miss me in his way. 



Ten more minutes. I hear the distant clatter of a car- 
riage. Richard driving to our rendezvous, two streets north 
of the palace gate. 

Will my limbs carry me to him and liberty? I pace the 
room to test their strength. 

"Louise,'' says the voice within, — "your last chance. 
Your good-natured husband, your darling children, your old 
parents, pomp and state and circumstance, indeed, a crown, 
you are going to abandon for — what ?'' 

A man whose carnal side only you know, a poor 
man, an artist without fame, a professional without 
future. 

Sadly perturbed in mind, I walk to the window. Those 
of His Majesty's cabinet, where the family council is in 
progress, are directly opposite. 

Shadows of men and women, rising from a sitting posi- 
tion, are thrown on the curtains. 

One of the shades slowly ascends. 

I see the Tisch pointing a bony finger to the windows 



348 THE STORY OF LOUISE 

of my boudoir. Von Metzsch stands by her sJde. They grin. 

You triumph, wretch and Jezebel? 

But when your sbirri, in an hour from no\V, or to- 
morrow morning early, invade my rooms, instructed to carry 
me away — bound hand and foot to a sofa, or in a straigi^t 
jacket, perhaps — they will find the Crown Princess gone — 
her and her Diary. 

Both will be safe on foreign soil ere you can make 
arrangements for organized pursuit, for Richard and I will 
travel by carriage to a distant suburb, there mount the fast 
express and keep to our state room, engaged under an 
assumed name, until without the sphere of Saxon or German 
influence. 

* * * 

A discreet knock. Andrew, my liberator ! In his hand 
a tallow dip to light this Imperial Highness down back stairs 
to the new life of her choice. 

"One moment, old man, this book goes into the valise. 

"Hand me the blotter, please. Tears won't do. 

"And a couple more handkerchiefs from the top of the 
chiffonier, please." 

FINIS 



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